Ashbel Smith Building, Galveston

The Ashbel Smith Building, affectionately known as “Old Red,” is a striking Romanesque Revival structure located in Galveston. Designed by master architect Nicholas J. Clayton and completed in 1891, it was the first building constructed for the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). Built with bold red brick and sandstone, the building features heavy masonry, rounded arches, and powerful symmetry characteristic of the Romanesque style. Despite its initial lack of medical equipment, the school opened with a dedicated and energetic staff, enrolling 23 students in its inaugural year.

The building was officially named in 1949 in honor of Ashbel Smith, a prominent surgeon, diplomat for the Republic of Texas, and a key figure in the founding of the University of Texas system. “Old Red” stood out not just for its architectural significance but also for its resilience, surviving both the catastrophic Galveston Hurricane of 1900 and the devastating floods of Hurricane Ike in 2008, which submerged its lower level under six feet of water. The building underwent major renovations in 1985 to preserve its historical and functional integrity.

In recognition of its architectural and historical importance, the Ashbel Smith Building was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1969. As the cornerstone of the UTMB campus, it remains a powerful symbol of Texas’ commitment to higher education and medical advancement.