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Education

See how Austin Community College turned Highland Mall into a campus

KUT 90.5 | By Claire McInerny

Published April 20, 2022 at 6:30 AM CDT

Tables are set up near an escalator at the ACC Highland Campus. — ACC's new Highland Campus is having a grand opening this weekend.

Austin Community College's new campus at the former Highland Mall is opening to the public this weekend.

The plans to turn Austin's first indoor mall into a community college campus began more than a decade ago when ACC started buying sections of the property in 2010. The campus has been opening in phases, and a grand opening for phase two takes place Saturday. The public will be able to tour the campus, located at 6101 Highland Campus Dr., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

ACC Highland has state-of-the-art skills labs for nursing programs, multiple kitchens for the culinary program and a television studio for radio, television and film students.

ACC's newest campus used to be Highland Mall, Austin's first indoor mall.

The campus has a bookstore.

Students tour the campus' culinary school.

A banana split sculpture from Highland Mall's food court remains on display at the campus.

Phase 2 of ACC Highland houses programs in dance, drama, music, culinary arts, radio, television, film and more.

Nursing student Malia Capers-Cristobal demonstrates a CPR move during a tour of the renovated campus.

Tables are set up for students in ACC Highland's hallways.

An entrance to the ACC Highland Campus.

Tags

Education Austin Community College Higher Education Highland Mall KUT

Claire McInerny

Claire McInerny is a former education reporter for KUT.

See stories by Claire McInerny

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