The University of Austin is advancing the construction of an applied engineering laboratory next to The Boring Company’s headquarters in Bastrop County, east of Austin. According to the Austin Business Journal, the university shared a social media post showing the nearly finished building near Walker Watson Road and FM 1209, approximately 30 miles from Downtown Austin. The post included the caption “coming soon.”
In a related announcement, The Boring Company stated that it had completed a two-week co-op program with the University of Austin. During this period, ten students participated in work focused on underground detection and communication technologies. “Ten students worked ‘around the clock on real-world underground detection and communication technologies,'” said The Boring Company in its social media post. No further details about the new facility were provided by either organization.
This development is part of ongoing changes in Bastrop County, where entities linked to Elon Musk have acquired nearly 700 acres since 2021. This area now hosts headquarters for The Boring Company and X (formerly Twitter), a growing SpaceX manufacturing site, residential housing, private schooling facilities, retail spaces, and other infrastructure.
Property records indicate that the new lab is being constructed on land connected to Musk-affiliated interests. In 2024, Bastrop Property Trust—an entity based in Austin—purchased a 29-acre parcel across from The Boring Company’s headquarters. While ownership details are not fully transparent, legal documentation links back to a Boca Chica law firm known for representing Musk-related companies in both Cameron and Bastrop counties.
Founded in 2021 by figures such as CBS News’ editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, venture capitalist Joe Lonsdale, and historian Niall Ferguson (all current board members), the University of Austin has promoted itself through applied sciences programs and partnerships with high-profile organizations. Although it remains unaccredited and currently operates out of downtown’s Scarborough Building, the school recently secured a $100 million donation from billionaire trader Jeffrey Yass as part of its broader $300 million fundraising campaign.
Rumors about increased collaboration between the university and Musk’s enterprises have circulated for months prior to these announcements.
