SMU chief architect says future land acquisitions possible

Despite completing $1.4 billion in projects over the past five years, Southern Methodist University’s chief architect said the school is still looking for opportunities to grow.

Bisnow/Billy Wadsack

Southern Methodist University’s East Campus is located on SMU Boulevard, on the east side of US Highway 75.

While most of the university’s property is west of U.S. Highway 75, its east campus is just across the highway on SMU Boulevard. However, SMU Chief Architect and Associate Vice President Michael Molina said the university’s property extends north to Fondren Drive and includes the area occupied by Cafe Brazil.

“These are all future developments in land use planning for SMU,” he said during the Commercial Real Estate Women Network Dallas September Luncheon on Wednesday. “It could be research, STEM technology (or) collaboration with private industry.”

Molina said that if the university decides to develop the land, it likely won’t be zoned for dorms because students don’t want to cross Highway 75 to get to campus.

“We are working on strategies that will allow us to (determine) how to best utilize the space east of 75 to open up space on the west campus for student life,” he said.

Because SMU is a landlocked campus, Molina said it’s important for the university to efficiently manage land acquisitions. His department receives nearly weekly calls about acquisition opportunities, and SMU has even conducted preliminary assessments on several when they became available, he said.

“Those things fell apart for one reason or another,” Molina said. “I would say any property that’s adjacent to SMU, we’d be very interested in having a cup of coffee. Even if it’s Hillcrest (Avenue), which means it’s across the street. We’re able to expand.”

Molina acknowledged that not all of the university’s neighbors want SMU to expand. He noted that the university has faced resistance at previous zoning hearings because SMU is exempt from federal income taxes as an educational institution.

“There was some comment about the tax impact,” Molina said. “Yes, we don’t pay taxes like a normal landowner. But over six and a half years, we paid over $7.9 million in building permit fees.”

Molina also highlighted several projects that SMU has completed, as well as new and upcoming projects. He said the $123 million Garry Weber End Zone complex is nearing completion, and work has begun on the 11,000-square-foot presidential residence at the corner of Dublin Street and Daniel Avenue.

The university’s next major project will be the Rees-Jones Library of the American West. Molina said the 84,000-square-foot library will cost nearly $79 million to build. SMU’s website says it will house the Rees-Jones collection of historical artifacts and bolster the university’s reputation as a top school for studying the American West.