Historic Fort McIntosh Campus
Laredo College’s downtown campus is located on a 200-acre tract of land which once served as a military fort that protected citizens and area ranchers from raiding Indians and bandits. Camp Crawford, later renamed Fort McIntosh, was established in 1849 near the point of an old Spanish and Indian river crossing. By 1850, the fort was renamed in honor of Lieutenant Colonel James Simmons McIntosh, a hero who lost his life after the Battle of Molino del Rey. A series of forts, Worth, Graham, Gates, Croghan, Scott, Lincoln, Duncan, and McIntosh, were established around this time to guard the frontier. These outposts were named in honor of fallen officers in the Mexican-American War.
Today, the grounds of the former Fort McIntosh are a state Archeological Landmark and National Register Historic District. Street names throughout the campus honor fallen heroes, presidents, fort commanders, officers, and soldiers.
Adkins Building - Named for the college’s first president, W.J. Adkins, this facility contains classrooms and offices for the English and Communication Department.
Arechiga Hall - One of the prominent historic buildings on the LC campus, this former barracks building was named in memory of Dr. Domingo Arechiga, who served as LJC president for eleven years. The building is currently closed.
Bookstore - Retail services for college books and student supplies are provided by Follett.
Cigarroa Science Complex Building- In 2020, the facility joined the Cigarroa Science Building, Joaquin Cigarroa Science Laboratory, and a new extension into one newly renovated complex – The Cigarroa Science section was named for the late Dr. Leonides Gonzalez Cigarroa, who served on the Laredo Independent School District Board of Trustees, which created LJC, and who served as a community and state proponent for higher education in South Texas. The Joaquin Cigarroa Science Laboratory section is named for Dr. Joaquin Gonzalez Cigarroa, who has served on local education boards and committees, and represented the South Texas region on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. This complex houses science laboratories, lecture classrooms, and officers for the Natural Sciences Department.
Corral - This facility, which houses the Employee Development Training Center (formerly ETAC), was originally built circa 1915, between the close of the Spanish American War and the start of World War I. Throughout the years it has served as a student cafeteria and as a student computer lab.
D.D. Hachar Building - Built to house vocational programs that include Computer Information Systems and Computer Aided Drafting, this facility is located on the south side of the campus. It was named in honor of the D.D. Hachar Foundation, which provided funding for classroom equipment.
De La Garza Building - Developed as a regional training center for import and export business, this facility was constructed with federal grants and a gift from the Adolfo C. and Maria de Jesus de la Garza family. Currently, this facility houses the production center for LC Cable Channel 17.
Eloy Garcia Building - Named the Eloy Garcia, Sr. Community Education Building to honor the memory of the long-time member of the LC Board of Trustees, this facility holds classrooms and offices for the Adult Education and Literacy and Continuing Education departments.
Fort McIntosh Park - Located on the north side of the historic campus, it features a swimming pool, baseball field, H.E. Butt tennis courts, a walking trail, softball field and concession facilities for student recreational programs.
Harold R. Yeary Library and Executive Conference Room - Located in the heart of the LC Fort McIntosh Campus and is named after the late Harold R. Yeary who once served as President of the Board of Trustees for Laredo Junior College. The Harold R. Yeary Library is thus a complete, full-service facility which prides itself on its heavy student usage, its capable staff, and its centrality to the mission of the college. It also houses the Economic Innovation Center, Center for Learning, Academic, and Student Success (CLASS), TRIO Student Support Services program, a gallery, the Palomino Café, and executive conference rooms.
Kazen Student Center - The Kazen Student Center is the hub of campus activities. The student center was named for the late Abraham "Chick" Kazen, who was a champion for education in the region. The center houses the Office of Student Life, the Student ID office, Honors Program, Special Services Center, Associate Dean of Students/Title IX Coordinator office, and an expanded Cafeteria with a larger dining area, as well as a game room.
Laird Hall - Named for the college’s second president, Ray Laird, this building contains classrooms, computer labs and offices for the Math Department.
Lamar Bruni Vergara Environmental Science Center - Named to reflect the contributions of the Lamar Bruni Vergara Charitable Trust, this facility is a living laboratory for students of all ages studying math, science and other related disciplines. The center contains representations of the Rio Grande ecosystem and live specimens of plant and animal life. Local school children take part in the center’s eco-curriculum through instructional tours scheduled on weekdays throughout the school year.
Lewis Energy Group Academic Center - Named for the Lewis Energy Group for its generous financial support, this facility opened in January 2012 and houses the Kinesiology, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Business Management Departments as well as the eLearning and Instructional Innovation Center. The building also houses many computer labs and general classrooms that are used by both academic and workforce areas. In addition, it contains a gymnasium for student and employee usage.
Lerma-Peña Center - Named for Laredo firefighters Gregorio Lerma and Armando H. Peña Jr., who lost their lives in the line of duty protecting the downtown college campus. The Lerma-Pena Center houses offices, programs, and services from the Student Services Division and the Bursar's Office.
Lopez Nursing Building and Ruben M. Garcia Allied Health Center - These two buildings are joined by a common courtyard, reminiscent of the historic City of Laredo Fleet Maintenance Shops which were once located on this site and formerly housed the health sciences. Facility is closed and former departments were relocated to South Campus at the College of Health Sciences Building.
Maravillo Gymnasium - Named for the first Laredo Junior College student to die in the line of duty in World War II, Cpl. Quintin Maravillo, this building was dedicated to the memory of LC students who have died in war. The gymnasium and classroom building supports Intramural Sports Programs.
Martin Building - The Joseph C. Martin Sr. Business Administration Building was recently renovated. It houses the Information Technology Department and the Institutional Research and Planning Office. Mr. Martin served as president of the local school board which spearheaded the opening of Laredo Junior College.
Martinez Fine Arts Center - Completed in 2003, this facility is a hub of instructional activity for the college’s Performing Arts, Fine Arts and Visual Arts programs. It contains sculpture and photography laboratories, state-of-the-art music laboratories and a 750-seat theater for the performing and fine arts. It is named after Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez, whose family foundation provided financial support for constructing and equipping the facility. The center also houses a state-of-the-art television studio with a satellite uplink for live broadcasting.
Memorial Hall - Formerly owned by Laredo State University, the former University Hall was renamed to honor college faculty and staff for their service to students. It houses classrooms and computer labs for general use.
Moore Vocational Building - Named for longtime LJC board member Mervil M. Moore, this facility holds classrooms and offices for Industrial Technology. It also houses the offices for the Director of Plant Operations & Maintenance
P-14 - Formerly the Fort McIntosh Post Hospital, it served as the first home for the Music and Dance Department. In 2004, it was renamed to honor the memory of Manuel Llaguno, a Laredo native who gave his life savings to create an endowment for LC student scholarships. It is closed for renovations.
P-34/35 - This facility formerly served as Fort McIntosh Officers’ Quarters and in 2013 was restored as part of the college’s multiyear, multimillion-dollar Facilities Master Plan. It houses the offices for Community and Media Relations.
President’s Home/P-9 - Formerly the Fort McIntosh Post Commander’s Home, this historic structure is currently the private home of the college president.
Private David B. Barkeley Cantu Veterans Memorial Chapel - On November 9, 2006 the former Fort McIntosh chapel was renamed and dedicated for Private David B. Barkeley Cantu, a World War I hero who was the first Laredoan to earn the Medal of Honor. The chapel, built in 1895 as a multi-denominational house of worship, underwent extensive exterior and interior renovation. The chapel is now a non-denominational chapel with the capacity to serve also as an events center to host some campus events. The center includes the Millicent B. Slaughter Heritage Center, which is named in honor of the college's former director of Donor Relations and Special Projects. It has served as the college bookstore and library and most recently housed the Laredo Children’s Museum.
Visual and Performing Arts Center - This building, which opened in January 2012, houses the Visual and Performing Arts Department as well as the Cosmetology program. . The building includes both an art gallery and a dance studio, as well as a decorative rotunda, named in memory of philanthropist Fernando A. Salinas, for students to gather.
West Building and Annex - Named for the college’s long-time Director of Admissions and Registrar, Ms. Elpha Lee West who began her career at LJC as an accounting instructor and also served as Social and Student Activities Director. The West Building houses offices and meeting rooms for college administration and the LC Board of Trustees.