The University of Austin is moving forward with the construction of an applied engineering laboratory next to The Boring Company’s headquarters in Bastrop County, east of Austin. This development marks a further connection between the university and Elon Musk’s companies.
A recent social media post from the university showed that the lab building is nearing completion near Walker Watson Road and FM 1209, approximately 30 miles east of Downtown Austin. The post was captioned “coming soon.” On the same day, The Boring Company shared that it had completed a two-week co-op program with ten University of Austin students who worked on underground detection and communication technologies. No additional details about the new facility have been released by either organization, and representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
The new lab adds to ongoing developments in Bastrop County linked to Musk. Since 2021, entities associated with Musk have acquired nearly 700 acres in the area, which now includes facilities for Boring and X (formerly Twitter), SpaceX manufacturing operations, housing, retail spaces, a private school, and other infrastructure. Much of this information has come through social media posts and public records.
There have been rumors for several months about the University of Austin seeking closer ties with Musk’s businesses and planning a presence in Bastrop. Founded in 2021 and currently based downtown at the Scarborough Building, the university is not accredited but focuses on applied sciences and partnerships with prominent organizations.
Property records indicate that land for the new lab was purchased by Bastrop Property Trust, an entity based in Austin. While ownership details are unclear, legal documents link it to firms known for representing Musk-affiliated companies.
The University of Austin was established by conservative thinkers including Bari Weiss, Joe Lonsdale, and Niall Ferguson—all current board members. Recently, billionaire Jeffrey Yass donated $100 million toward its $300 million fundraising goal.
