UTSA Center Expansion Strategy Progresses, Plans Include Purchase of One Riverwalk Place

“The opportunity to acquire One Riverwalk Place is strategic for us. It is adjacent to our Southwest Campus, offers programmatic and placemaking opportunities, and is an incredible building and facility for our interests in academic innovation and the arts,” said UTSA President Taylor Eighty“The acquisition of One Riverwalk Place reaffirms our commitment to expansion, collaboration and community engagement in downtown San Antonio, while also providing our students with the skills they need to succeed.”

UTSA intends to house academic departments and support services at One Riverwalk Place, as well as explore opportunities for first-floor retail space. This aligns with the university’s long-term vision, supported by the Campus Master Plan, to place academic programs downtown that will most benefit 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 detailed planning of specific areas or districts around the university to create a dynamic campus environment that is functional, sustainable, and identifies the best use of space. The district planning process will continue throughout the 2024-2025 academic year with the goal of beginning initial moves to One Riverwalk Place in the summer of 2025.

“Our downtown campus, located in San Antonio’s technology corridor, provides a unique environment that drives economic development, increases social mobility and nurtures professional talent,” said Veronica SalazarUTSA executive vice president for business affairs and chief financial officer. “Our continued investments in downtown San Antonio promise to support the positive development of San Antonio and the overall growth of the university.”

In recent years, the university has made significant progress toward its vision of expanding its downtown location. Most recently, in January 2024, UTSA announced the creation of a new college focused on artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, computer science, data science, and related disciplines. This new college further supports UTSA’s efforts to contribute to the growth and revitalization 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. The 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 educating highly skilled professionals in data science, data analytics, and national security.

Later that 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 science, and data science. Programming activities will focus on connecting the business community with undergraduate and graduate students, providing the necessary environment for internships and experiential learning to support student success.

“San Pedro I and San Pedro II together are changing the landscape of higher education in the city center,” he said. Heather ShipleyUTSA Vice Chancellor and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. “These facilities provide tremendous opportunities for collaboration to support San Antonio’s workforce needs while also connecting students with meaningful, career-engaged learning.”

In addition to its focus on the San Pedro block, the development of UTSA Center has also focused on expanding access to the arts. In July 2022, the university integrated with the Southwest School of Art, reaffirming UTSA’s commitment to supporting high-quality arts education in San Antonio. This partnership, now known as UTSA Southwest Campus, places UTSA in the heart of San Antonio’s cultural and artistic center along the River Walk and adjacent to the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts and the San Antonio Central Library.

Combined, these milestones have more than doubled UTSA’s downtown footprint over the past five years. As the university’s footprint has expanded, support services have become critical to student success. These resources include a chef-inspired restaurant concept—The Eatery—in San Pedro I, expanded partnerships with Centro San Antonio, and the launch of The Little Runner, a free e-bus that provides safe, fast, and reliable transportation between UTSA’s downtown locations.

The university’s planned growth continues over the next five years, in line with President Taylor Eighty’s stated goal of reaching 41,000 students with a core city population of 10,000.

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