- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Former Texas Elementary School Transformed Into Community Center and Mosque
The Unity Center opens in Lubbock, Texas after a quick 45-day renovation of the shuttered Arnett Elementary School.
Published on Feb. 19, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
A former elementary school in Lubbock, Texas has been repurposed into a new community hub and mosque called The Unity Center. The center was purchased and renovated in just 45 days by Texas Tech student Mohamad Altabaa, who documented the process on social media. The Unity Center held its grand opening this weekend, inviting the local community to a volunteer event and barbeque.
Why it matters
The transformation of the shuttered Arnett Elementary School into The Unity Center represents an effort to breathe new life into a vacant community space and provide a gathering place for people of all faiths. However, the project has also faced some backlash, highlighting ongoing tensions around religious and cultural diversity in the region.
The details
Mohamad Altabaa, the president of The Unity Center, purchased the former Arnett Elementary School in January 2026 with plans to quickly renovate it into a community hub before the start of Ramadan on February 17th. The 45-day renovation process was documented in an eight-part video series that garnered thousands of views on social media. The new Unity Center features recreational facilities and a mosque open to all community members, regardless of faith.
- Arnett Elementary School closed in 2011.
- Mohamad Altabaa purchased the former school in January 2026.
- The Unity Center held its grand opening on February 19, 2026, just before the start of Ramadan.
The players
Mohamad Altabaa
A Texas Tech student who purchased the former Arnett Elementary School and oversaw its transformation into The Unity Center community hub and mosque.
Freddy Brajas
A Lubbock resident who attended the grand opening of The Unity Center and recalled attending the former Arnett Elementary School as a child.
What they’re saying
“The last 45 days has been completely insane. It's been a crazy journey, crazier than we could have ever expected, but alhamdulillah, we're finally at the finish line.”
— Mohamad Altabaa, President of The Unity Center (Instagram)
“I came to check out this little project they got going here and it's coming out pretty good. I went to this school when I was a little kid and it looks way different.”
— Freddy Brajas (chron.com)
“We began this project 45 days ago with nothing more than a dream. This is more than just a building. It's about spreading a message—a message of hope, love and unity.”
— Mohamad Altabaa, President of The Unity Center (Instagram)
“I invite these same people saying those hateful things to come and see the work that we're doing with their own eyes.”
— Mohamad Altabaa, President of The Unity Center (Instagram)
What’s next
The Unity Center plans to continue hosting community events and programming to bring people of all backgrounds together in the former school building.
The takeaway
The rapid transformation of a shuttered elementary school into a vibrant community center and mosque highlights the potential to repurpose vacant spaces to meet the evolving needs of a local population. However, the project has also faced some backlash, underscoring the ongoing challenges of fostering religious and cultural diversity in certain communities.
