The UTSA Institute of Texas Cultures is coming down.
On Monday, a Bexar County judge ruled that demolition of the museum and 1968 World’s Fair building can continue despite opposition by preservationists who had hoped for a pause.
“We are grateful that the court took the time to carefully consider this matter,” said University spokesman Joe Izbrand. “Our focus remains on ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Institute of Texan Cultures by monetizing the property at the Hemisfair campus.”
The Texas Historical Commission issued a demolition permit late last year and a contractor has been actively dismantling the building. A university spokesperson told the Report at the time that “abatement work” was underway, not a full demolition. The work continued despite the lawsuit.
As the teardown became more visible, and following years of advocating for preservation, the Conservation Society of San Antonio on April 2 filed for a restraining order and temporary injunction to try and halt demolition of the building.
The lawsuit named UTSA and the City of San Antonio, which has eyed the site for a new Spurs arena, the anchor of an expansive sports and entertainment district in downtown San Antonio.
Judge Tina Torres of the 407th Civil District Court ruled during Monday’s hearing that she does not have the jurisdictional authority to hear the case.
The university and city argued that Torres had no standing to decide the outcome of the case because governmental entities enjoy sovereign immunity that protects them from being sued.
The City Attorney’s office released a statement after the ruling saying the city should not have been named in the lawsuit as it did not own the permit, building or property.
The three-story, Brutalist structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2024 and designated a State Antiquities Landmark.
The Institute of Texan Cultures closed the doors of the museum in May 2024. UTSA plans to open a temporary and truncated version of the museum in the Frost Tower.
The university has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the city and 1859 Historic Hotels, owners of the Crockett Hotel, to build a new, permanent museum on what is currently a hotel parking lot near Alamo Plaza.
