West Campus is a neighborhood in central Austin, Texas west of Guadalupe Street (the Drag) and its namesake, The University of Texas at Austin. Due to its close proximity to the university, West Campus is heavily populated by college students.[1] The area is known for its pastel colored residential buildings.
West Campus area’s architecture is diverse, with 80-year-old buildings often found next door to modern condos and apartments. Craftsman homes, bungalows, historic mansions, duplexes, and apartments can all be found in this area despite its small geographic size.
This neighborhood is marked by the wide range of student organizations[1] and Greek communities [2] that occupy it. West Campus is home to more than 50 Greek organizations, more than 12 co-ops, organized by the Inter-Cooperative Council (ICC) [3], and many other student organizations.
The biggest changes to West Campus in recent years have come about as a result of the University Neighborhood Overlay (UNO) Plan [4], a city initiative passed in 2004. The UNO plans were:
"intended to help create a residential district that is close to the campus, consolidating some of the student housing that is presently scattered throughout the city, and thereby reducing transient student traffic to campus from outside, and reducing the transient parking requirements around West Campus."
The plan seeks to bring University of Texas students closer to campus, as well as create a denser, urban environment in order to provide more space for the growing student population.
The eastern boundary of West Campus is a major commercial area known as "The Drag" or Guadalupe Street, where clothing stores, restaurants, bookstores (including the University COOP), and venues are across the street from the University.
Due to the proximity of the West Campus area to the University, it is close to University facilities such as the Blanton Museum of Art, the Harry Ransom Center, and the LBJ Library. The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, which features an IMAX theater, is also nearby as well. Pease Park is on the western border at Lamar Boulevard.