Editor's Choice: UTSA expands Downtown San Antonio footprint

"The opportunity to acquire One Riverwalk Place is so strategic for us. It's adjacent to our Southwest Campus, affords programmatic and placemaking opportunities and is an incredible building and facility for our keen interests in academic innovation and the arts," said UTSA President Taylor Eighmy. "Acquiring One Riverwalk Place affirms our commitment to expansion, collaboration and community engagement in downtown San Antonio while positioning our students to acquire the skills they need to succeed."

UTSA expects to house academic departments and support services in One Riverwalk Place, as well as explore opportunities for retail space on the first floor. This aligns with the university's long-term vision, supported by the Campus Master Plan, to position academic programs downtown that will benefit most from co-location with businesses and community partners in San Antonio's urban core.

Once approved by the Board of Regents, UTSA will engage academic colleges and community stakeholders in a district planning process over the next year. This process involves the detailed planning of specific areas, or districts, around the university with a goal to create a dynamic campus environment that is functional, sustainable and identifies best utilization for the space. The district planning process will take place throughout the 2024-2025 academic year with a goal to begin initial moves to One Riverwalk Place in summer 2025.

"The Downtown Campus, anchored in San Antonio's tech corridor, provides a unique environment to drive economic development, increase social mobility and support workforce talent," said Veronica Salazar, UTSA executive vice president for business affairs and chief financial officer. "Our continued investment in downtown San Antonio promises to support positive development for San Antonio and the overall growth of the university."

In recent years, the university has made significant progress toward its vision to develop its downtown locations. Most recently, in January 2024 UTSA announced the creation of a new college dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, computing, data science and related disciplines. This new college further supports UTSA's efforts to contribute to the growth and vibrancy of downtown San Antonio as the university works to create an advanced center for on-demand training and education, research and community partnerships.

In January 2023, UTSA opened San Pedro I. This 167,000-square-foot, $91.8 million building is home to UTSA's School of Data Science and National Security Collaboration Center. Located along the revitalized San Pedro Culture Creek, the facility supports UTSA's position as a global leader in producing highly skilled professionals in data science, data analytics, and national security.

Later that same year, UTSA broke ground on San Pedro II, a development adjacent to San Pedro I that will focus on innovation, entrepreneurship and careers. The 180,000 square foot, $124 million facility will provide training to prepare students for careers in interdisciplinary fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, computer and data sciences. Programming efforts will focus on connecting the business community to undergraduate and graduate students, providing the necessary environment for internships and experiential learning to support student success.

"Together, San Pedro I and San Pedro II are transforming the downtown higher education landscape," said Heather Shipley, UTSA provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. "These facilities create tremendous collaborative opportunities to support San Antonio's workforce needs while simultaneously connecting students with meaningful career-engaged learning."

In addition to focusing on the San Pedro block, UTSA's downtown development has also focused on expanding access to the arts. In July 2022, the university integrated with the Southwest School of Art, affirming UTSA's commitment to supporting high-quality arts education in San Antonio. Now known as the UTSA Southwest Campus, this collaboration positions UTSA in the heart of San Antonio's cultural and arts center along the River Walk and adjacent to the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts and San Antonio Central Library.

Combined, these milestones have more than doubled UTSA's acreage in the downtown urban core over the last five years. As the university's footprint has grown, so have support services critical to student success. These resources include a chef-inspired dining concept - The Eatery - at San Pedro I, expanded partnerships with Centro San Antonio, and the launch of The Little Runner, a free e-shuttle providing safe, quick and reliable transportation between UTSA's downtown locations.

In September, VIA expanded it's popular on-demand VIA Link program to include a new VIA Link Downtown zone and enhancements to The Little Runner.

The university's planned growth continues as the institution looks forward to the next five years, continuing President Taylor Eighmy's stated goal to reach an enrollment of 41,000 with a downtown population of 10,000 students.

The UT System Board of Regents is expected to vote on the acquisition of One Riverwalk Place during its August 21-22 board meeting. UTSA will provide updates to the university community during the fall semester.

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