Buc-ee’s founder and CEO Arch “Beaver” Aplin III ’80 returned to Aggieland on Tuesday, Nov. 3, to share the story behind one of Texas’ most recognizable brands. His keynote capped the daylong Texas A&M College of Architecture Showcase, which explored how Aggies are helping shape the built places and communities Texans experience every day.
Now in its fourth year, Showcase gave visitors a look at the people and disciplines behind the built environment: the buildings, outdoor spaces, neighborhoods and infrastructure where people live, work, learn, travel and connect.
Nearly 1,900 students, faculty, staff, former students, industry professionals, community members and campus partners participated in the college’s largest Showcase to date, representing more than 10 Texas A&M colleges and schools.
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Throughout the Rudder Theatre Complex, attendees explored sessions, hands-on demonstrations, information tables and the featured Aplin Center gallery. Centered on the future Aplin Center, this year’s Showcase highlighted how architecture, construction science, landscape architecture and urban planning work together to shape Texas’ future.
“Today’s program has shown the breadth of the college, but also how closely its disciplines connect,” said Dr. Angela K. Wilson, vice president for research. “The challenges facing Texas and our communities rarely fit within one discipline. Progress often begins by bringing together people who understand different parts of the same problem.”
“The challenges facing Texas and our communities rarely fit within one discipline. Progress often begins by bringing together people who understand different parts of the same problem.”
Dr. Angela K. Wilson, vice president for research, Division of Research, Texas A&M University
Innovation on display
In the Exhibit Hall, hands-on demonstrations and research presentations showed how innovation can improve everyday experiences.
Master of Architecture students in the Health Systems and Design program invited visitors to step inside a full-scale cardboard mock-up of a surgical room. The exhibit demonstrated how details such as movement, visibility, comfort and stress reduction can influence the experience of patients and healthcare providers.
Nearby, visitors tried on exoskeletons that support construction workers during physically demanding tasks.
“Showcase demonstrates the power of connecting disciplines, people and ideas,” said Dr. Ivy Hu, dean of the College of Architecture. “Our students, faculty and former students are putting Aggie Core Values into action and applying critical thinking and collaboration to help shape stronger communities throughout Aggieland, across Texas and beyond.”
Robb Berg, president of Design Workshop, discussed the Aplin Center with attendees in the Aplin Center Gallery.
Aplin returns to Aggieland
During the keynote and Sesquicentennial Speaker Series conversation with Texas A&M President Susan Ballabina, Aplin reflected on the Aggie community that shaped his experience as a student.
Aplin earned his bachelor’s degree in building construction — now construction science — from the College of Architecture in 1980. He recalled arriving in College Station from Lake Jackson and being deeply moved by its campus culture, which stayed with him long after graduation.
“Being a student here was a phenomenal experience for me … the people, the professors, the experience and the friends I still have to this day from Texas A&M University,” Aplin said.
After an unexpected change in his post-graduation plans, Aplin opened his first Buc-ee’s convenience store in Lake Jackson in 1982. The Texas-based travel-center brand has become iconic for its customer service, quality food and clean restrooms.
While fielding questions from the audience, Aplin encouraged students to stay open to opportunities as their own careers take shape.
“You don’t have to have it all figured out,” he said. “But you do have to be curious, and you can’t be lazy, and you have to take action.”
“Being a student here was a phenomenal experience for me … the people, the professors, the experience and the friends I still have to this day from Texas A&M University.”
Arch “Beaver” Aplin III ’80, founder and CEO, Buc-ee’s
Aplin Center connects Texas A&M’s legacy and future
A centerpiece of this year’s Showcase, the future Aplin Center will be an immersive learning hub, research facility and campus visitor center for students, faculty, industry partners and prospective Aggies. Funded by a $60 million gift from Aplin, the three-story facility is scheduled to open in February 2028.
The center will bring together programs in hospitality, hotel management and tourism; marketing; food and beverage research; and retail and customer experience. It will support hands-on learning, industry-partnered research and serve as a new gateway site for Texas A&M.
“The visitor experience that our prospective students will have when they travel to the Aplin Center will be unlike anything in the country,” Ballabina said. “It is going to be a game changer for Texas A&M University.”
