Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

UT System Approves First Funds for New Campus

  • By Matt Jones
  • 02/26/26

Key Takeaways

  • The UT System Board of Regents approved $94.3 million to build the first facility of UTA West, a new 51-acre branch campus in far west Fort Worth set to open in fall 2028.
  • The project aims to support rapid regional population growth—particularly in Parker County, one of Texas’ fastest-growing counties—and address workforce needs in North Texas.
  • University leaders describe UTA West as a strategic investment that will expand access to a leading research university and drive long-term economic growth in the region.

The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently approved funds to build the first facility of a new campus in far west Fort Worth, Texas, according to university news. UTA West will serve as a branch of the University of Texas at Arlington and is scheduled to open in fall 2028; the new building has an estimated cost of $94.3 million.

Local news reports that funding for infrastructure improvements like utilities, site preparation, and site parking was passed in November. The new campus will cover 51 acres.

“UTA West represents the kind of strategic investment that strengthens opportunity and economic growth in Texas,” said UT System Chancellor John M. Zerwas, MD. “I know how important this project is to the Board of Regents and to the future of this fast-growing region. This funding moves UT Arlington closer to expanding access to a leading research university and helping meet the workforce needs of North Texas.”

The new campus development is a response to rapid population growth in Fort Worth and Parker County, according to the news release. The county’s population grew by 19.4% between 2020 and 2024, putting it at the third-fastest-growing county in the state.

“This investment marks a defining moment for our university and the region we proudly serve,” said UTA President Jennifer Cowley. “I am deeply grateful to our Board of Regents for their steadfast belief in what UTA West will mean for generations of students. Their meaningful support will help turn our big dream into a tangible reality.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • University of Pennsylvania Releases Design of Future Physical Sciences Building

    The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) in Philadelphia, Penn., recently released renderings of an upcoming 350,000-square-foot Physical Sciences Building, according to news release. The facility was designed by CO Architects and will unite the university’s departments of Physics and Astronomy, Mathematics, and Earth and Environmental Science.

  • S4L Announces 2026 Education Design Showcase Winners

    Spaces4Learning is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2026 Education Design Showcase! Now in its 27th year, the annual awards program honors innovative solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction across K–12 and higher education.

  • Planning with Clarity: Using AI to Make Better Campus Decisions, Not Just Better Designs

    Higher education leaders are being asked to make increasingly high-stakes decisions about campus facilities amid greater uncertainty than ever before. Social and economic pressures, shifting enrollment, and evolving learning models compete with growing deferred maintenance needs to strain even the most robust infrastructure budgets.

  • Chartwells Launches Campus Dining Evaluation Framework

    Contract food-service management provider Chartwells Higher Education recently announced the launch of BLUEPRINT, according to a news release. The evaluation framework was designed to provide a data-driven and customizable roadmap towards optimizing campus dining services and, by extension, the student experience.