Texas A&M University has officially broken ground on the Aplin Center, a first-of-its-kind immersive learning hub designed to transform how students prepare for careers in hospitality, retail and marketing. The Oct. 3, 2025, ceremony marked a milestone in the university’s ongoing effort to create innovative, hands-on educational experiences.
The $60 million project is made possible through a gift from Arch “Beaver” Aplin III ’80, founder and CEO of Buc-ee’s — the Texas-based travel center chain known for its Beaver Nuggets, pristine restrooms and iconic beaver mascot. Aplin’s donation also supports the naming of the Arch H. Aplin III ’80 Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the Arch H. Aplin III ’80 Department of Marketing at Mays Business School.
At the groundbreaking, Aplin joined Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Texas A&M Chancellor Glenn Hegar, and Provost Alan Sams among 14 participants holding ceremonial shovels.
A National Model for Experiential Learning
The Aplin Center will be a 211,724-square-foot, three-story mass timber facility featuring immersive learning laboratories, food tasting centers, student-run retail and dining spaces, and corporate training environments. Texas A&M officials describe it as the most comprehensive experiential academic facility in the nation — a “game changer” that will serve as a primary gateway for campus visitors.
As the future home of the Texas A&M Visitor Center, the building will include a 170-seat theater, multipurpose meeting rooms and student ambassador spaces. It will also serve as both the first stop for prospective students and the last stop for graduating Aggies.
Connecting Industry and Education
Through the Aplin Center’s hands-on learning model, students will manage retail and dining operations, engage in product development, and collaborate on industry-partnered research projects. Labs and classrooms will be designed for transparency, allowing visitors to observe students and faculty at work — from roasting coffee beans to making ice cream.
The goal, Texas A&M leaders say, is to ensure graduates are workforce-ready and connected to industry before they leave campus.
From Aggie to Industry Leader
Aplin, who graduated from Texas A&M in 1980 with a degree in building construction, founded Buc-ee’s in 1982 in Lake Jackson, Texas. The company has grown into one of the state’s most recognizable brands, with 54 locations across nine states and a reputation for cleanliness, customer service and Texas pride.
Aplin has maintained strong ties to Texas A&M, serving on The Association of Former Students Board of Directors and supporting numerous university initiatives. He was recently named a 2025 Distinguished Alumnus of Texas A&M and has received multiple awards for leadership and business innovation.
His philanthropy extends beyond the university. Following severe flooding in Kerrville this past summer, Buc-ee’s donated $1 million to the Community Foundation of the Hill Country to aid recovery efforts — the largest single donation ever featured in NBC’s Today Show “Lend a Hand” segment.
A Legacy of Innovation and Service
The Aplin Center embodies Aplin’s lifelong approach to business: blending quality, customer experience and community impact. “We’re quite serious about the business operation,” Aplin said in a Texas A&M University profile. “Producing the product and the experience for our customers. We are very serious about the quality of the product that we make available.”
Texas A&M expects the Aplin Center to redefine the student experience, merging industry expertise with academic innovation and ensuring that future Aggies continue the university’s tradition of leadership, service and excellence.
Image Source: https://aplincenter.tamu.edu/
Texas Reporter 