A gift from an energy company will help improve one of Texas Tech’s engineering buildings.

On Thursday, Texas Tech officials announced a $500,000 gift from LINN Energy to the Petroleum Engineering department to go to create a new student lounge.

Tech will name the LINN Energy Student Lounge in the new Petroleum Engineering Research Building due to the gift.

“Students are our top priority, and this new student lounge in the Petroleum Engineering Research Building will be a place where they will learn, discover, and excel,” said Tech Chancellor Kent Hance. “We are very grateful to LINN Energy for their contribution to Texas Tech and support of future generations of well-qualified engineers.”

The LINN Energy Student Lounge will help encourage collaboration among students and will provide small study group rooms and an area of the scholarly exchange of ideas between faculty and students.

“This facility will house classrooms, research labs, and study areas and provide a high quality educational environment for the 21st century engineers needed in the oil and gas industry,” said Arden Walker, LINN Energy executive vice president and chief operating officer.

The new Petroleum Engineering Research Building will be a $22.8 million facility with around 42,000 square feet of modern classroom and research space.

LINN Energy is headquartered in Houston, and is a top-15 U.S. independent oil and natural gas development company.

More From News/Talk 95.1 & 790 KFYO