Carlos CdeBaca Is Constructing the Future of Engineering 

Just a few years after walking across the Frank Erwin Center stage as a Texas Engineering graduate, Carlos CdeBaca returned to the Forty Acres to build up the place that built his engineering foundation. Trading in a graduation cap for a hard hat emblazoned with the Longhorn logo, CdeBaca has come back to campus to help construct the future of engineering at The University of Texas at Austin: the Autry C. Stephens Engineering Discovery Building.  

Set to open this fall, the new home of the Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering and McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering will be an incubator for interdisciplinary research, education and innovation. At the helm of this project is Vaughn Construction, where CdeBaca works as a project engineer. 

We recently joined the Fariborz Maseeh Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering alumnus on his daily walkthrough of the nearly-complete facility, where he spoke with us about his time as a student, his involvement in this project and what it means to have a hand in building the future of engineering education at his alma mater.  

What made you want to pursue civil engineering at UT? 

I grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but my grandparents lived in Fredericksburg, so I spent a lot of time in Central Texas as a kid. From an early age, I knew I wanted to be a Longhorn. My father recognized I had an engineering mindset, and I have always had an interest in construction and the built environment, so civil engineering felt like the best fit for me.  

What I really love about civil engineering is understanding how everything works together. Most people see a road as just a road, but engineers understand everything underneath it, from the utilities and the materials to the planning and coordination that make it function. 

How did you become involved in this project?  

At Vaughn Construction, we focus heavily on health care, higher education, research labs, and civic projects, so the Autry C. Stephens Engineering Discovery Building fits perfectly within our core markets. 

I was lucky enough to be selected for the project partly because I’m a UT graduate and partly because I was genuinely excited about the opportunity. I was one of the first few people from Vaughn assigned to the project and have been involved since the early design stages. 

I have seen the full progression of the project, from early design and demolition through site work, concrete and structural work, façade installation and interior finishes. I am thankful to have helped carry this project from beginning to completion. 

Tell us more about your role as a project engineer.  

I work on the project management side, often called the office side, alongside the field team. I manage requests for information (RFIs), coordinate with architects and engineers, lead meetings, submit materials for approval, communicate with UT departments and process trade contractor payments. 

The field team directs construction on-site, while I ensure they have the information, resources and support needed to keep the work moving forward. Our teams stay closely aligned and support each other throughout the project. 

How did your engineering education at UT prepare you for your career as a project engineer? 

Engineering education teaches problem-solving and critical thinking. Instead of memorizing formulas, engineers learn how to evaluate constraints, gather resources, and develop creative solutions, a mindset that applies directly to construction, where challenges arise every day. 

The Autry C. Stephens Engineering Discovery Building revealed the scale of coordination required across the university. Even with construction contained within a fenced site, every decision affects people beyond it, underscoring the importance of communication and collaboration. My engineering background helps me connect contractors, engineers, and architects, bridge different perspectives and support teamwork. On a successful construction project, everyone succeeds together. 

How does it feel to be building the future of engineering on the campus where you received your engineering education? 

That’s one of the coolest aspects of working on this project. At Vaughn, one of our mottos is “building what matters,” and this project really represents that. This building will house future engineers and researchers who could make discoveries that improve people’s lives worldwide. 

UT’s motto also emphasizes “what starts here changes the world,” and this project feels like a perfect intersection of those ideas. This facility matters because it will house education and support research with a real global impact. 

These modern labs and updated facilities will also help attract top researchers and students to campus, helping the programs that call this building home remain highly ranked.  

What advice do you have for current and/or future Texas Engineers? 

I would encourage students to take advantage of every opportunity to build relationships with professors while they can. Looking back, I wish I had taken the time to ask them more questions, build deeper relationships and learn from their experience. They contain a wealth of knowledge and experience that you may never have direct and close access to again. Gain as much as you can from them while you have the opportunity as a student.  

That said, I’ve run into several of my former professors while working on this project. I’ve gotten to tell them that I took their classes and now I’m helping build this new facility for the university. It’s been really rewarding to reconnect with them in that way. 

Also, get involved, but don’t feel the need to try to do everything. My main involvement outside of my studies was with a Christian organization and intramural sports, mainly basketball. I’ve always preferred focusing deeply on a few things that matter to me so I can maintain balance. 

Are there any other Forty Acres projects on the horizon for you? 

Actually, yes! I’ll be moving onto the Ernest Cockrell Jr. Hall project and helping manage renovations on the seventh and eighth floors. 

That’s another exciting opportunity because that building is home to my alma mater department, and those labs are definitely due for modernization. It’s rewarding to continue working on projects that improve engineering facilities on campus! 

I am excited to continue contributing to projects that will help the university provide impactful engineering education and facilitate groundbreaking research for years to come.  

Hook ‘em!