The University of Texas at Austin Brackenridge Field Laboratory (BFL) is a unique urban research station located on 82 acres of land that border the Colorado River. For decades, faculty and students from the University of Texas have used this tract of land for research, teaching, and specimen collection. Since the establishment of BFL in 1967, the field station has continued to evolve as a center for biodiversity research in Texas. In addition to these natural spaces, the site offers modern facilities that provide onsite workspaces and resources.
The main 18,279 sq. ft laboratory building provides indoor research facilities as well as classroom and computer lab spaces for graduate and undergraduate courses. Indoor facilities also include an animal rearing room, greenhouse, plant dryer, wet lab, natural temperature laboratory, library, darkroom, workshop, a living cycad collection with attached fumigation room, and 2 constant temperature rooms. The UT entomology collection and other biodiversity collections are housed at the Lake Austin Center adjacent to BFL.
Outdoor Facilities
BFL’s outdoor facilities and resources include five contemporary greenhouses and one conservatory housing a tropical community of plants and butterflies that simulate the conditions of rainforest canopy gaps. Across the property there are groups of above-ground concrete fish tanks that house a nationally important research collection of Poecilid fish. The land itself is partitioned in several areas to create 12 one-acre population enclosures equipped with non-climbable walls and electricity. Eight of these enclosures contain ponds while the remaining four have water faucets available for use. In addition, there are eight smaller enclosures, measuring 30ft by 30ft, and a three-acre, deer-fenced experimental garden with water access. The site also offers access to the Colorado River, with a boat house and a gated boat ramp located in the lower terrace area. Outdoor utilities include 2 water wells, equipment sheds, a duck blind, and a weather station.
ADA Accessibility
Brackenridge Field Laboratory buildings are wheelchair accessible, and most wheelchairs are able to travel along the paved roads throughout the field station campus. Please call 512-471-2114 for specifics regarding BFL accessibility.