A&M-Fort Worth Nearly Doubles Construction Budget

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents recently announced its decision to practically double the construction budget of Phase One of the Texas A&M-Fort Worth research campus, from $85 million to $150 million, according to a university news release.

The increased budget is due to demands and requests for space in the Law & Education building, which will stand nine stories and measure in at 225,000 square feet. The facility will play home to programs in law, engineering, health sciences, business, and others, the news release reports.

“There is so much opportunity for the Texas A&M System to serve Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and all of North Texas, we had to go bigger and taller in the first building,” said Chancellor John Sharp.

The Law & Education Building will be the first of a three-building complex on four city blocks. The other two structures will consist of public-private sector partnerships built with city-issued bonds and funded by lease payments from both the Texas A&M System and private-sector companies. The campus will form a “hub of collaboration between key Fort Worth industries and top research, education and workforce training assets of the Texas A&M System,” the news release reports.

The Texas A&M University School of Law and its 1,200 students will take up about half of the building. The Regents also authorized $15 million of the $150-million budget toward design and pre-construction services. The Board could be requested to give the final authorization for the project’s groundbreaking by May 2023, according to the news release.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Wold Completes Geothermal Projects at Two Minnesota Schools

    Wold Architects & Engineers recently announced that it has completed two geothermal expansion projects for Mounds View Public Schools in Shoreview, Minn., according to a news release. The work at Highview Middle School and Irondale High School serves the district’s long-term goal of reducing energy costs and dependency on non-renewable fuel sources, as well as improving building performance.

  • Designing the Bridge Between Inclusivity and Independence in K–12 Schools

    Fostering independence is fundamental to learning and development for K–12 students. It offers many proven benefits, such as enhanced confidence, problem-solving, decision-making, and social skills. However, this foundational objective loses its impact if it’s not accessible and adaptable to all students. Inclusivity plays a critical role in cultivating independence and healthy autonomy for students, fostering positive student learning outcomes by uniting pedagogy with the physical learning environment.

  • University of Rochester to Break Ground on New Student Life Center

    The University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y., recently began construction on a new Student Life building, according to a news release. The first floor will contain campus-wide gathering, program, and rehearsal space; the second floor will play home to the Greenbaum Center for Jewish Life.

  • Washington State District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    Cheney School District No. 360 in Spokane County, Wash., recently announced that construction has begun on a new elementary school, according to local news. The district held a groundbreaking ceremony on May 18 in Airway Heights for the yet-to-be-named school, which is scheduled to open in fall 2027.