As Texas State University prepares for a decade of rapid growth, students, faculty and staff can expect major changes to campus.
The overview
In May, Texas State unveiled its 2025-2035 Campus Master Plan—described by President Kelly Damphousse as a “visionary roadmap” to guide campus growth amid historic enrollment highs and shifting student needs—which was approved by the board of regents May 1.
“We’re excited about the growth that is happening at Texas State and all that is happening here and the potential to expand what we’re doing, not just academically inside the classroom, but in our campus spaces as well.” Texas State University President Kelly Damphousse said at the May 1 meeting.
The master plan, developed from July 2023 to December 2024, is organized around five key themes:
- Student success and experience
- Academic excellence
- Discovery and research
- Community and connectivity
- Stewardship of resources
Together, these changes will shape the student experience for years to come, according to university officials.
What you should know
Eric Algoe, executive vice president for operations and chief financial officer, said that Texas State is trying to be strategic with the phasing of the plan. Algoe said the university plans to streamline projects by specific areas, so multiple projects in a specific area get done at a time rather than spreading out construction across all of campus. He emphasized this would help keep costs down, which allows for the upgrades without increasing student tuition.
“It’s making sure that when we go in to do one thing, that we get the most bang for our buck,” Algoe said.
For example, Algoe said if Texas State had to replace a steam line somewhere in the heart of campus and there were plans to replace sidewalks in that area in the future, they would plan to do both projects at once.
Student success and experience
The master plan includes expanding the Student Health Center, increasing support for graduate students, improving open spaces, and upgrading infrastructure to better support academics and campus life.
With enrollment growth and the requirement for first-year students to live on campus, Texas State plans to complete Castro Hall in the fall, adding 942 beds. The university will also build two new dorms and a dining hall in the Hilltop Housing complex. Several older dorms—including Sterry, Butler and Lantana Halls—will receive renovations. Blanco Hall and Harris Dining Hall will undergo expansions.
The plan reimagines Alkek and Lyndon B. Johnson plazas with added green spaces, arts, seating and community-centered activity areas. Both plazas will replace stairs with accessible slopes.
“The campus is not the buildings; the campus is what’s in between the buildings,” University Architect Gordon Bohmfalk said.
Academic excellence
Several projects include expansions in Round Rock and other satellite locations, plus online programs accessible statewide.
On the San Marcos campus, plans feature a new music building, a gallery linked to the performing arts center, renovations of Supple Science, Encino Hall, Jackson Hall, a campus hotel, theater center restoration and adaptable space behind Lantana Hall.
Discovery and research
One of Texas State’s goals is to make research a top priority, according to plan documents. To support this, the university plans to complete a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, or STEM, neighborhood and expand space through new and renovated facilities.
The area will feature an Integrated Science and Discovery Building, parking garage, quad and a pedestrian bridge. Renovations will include Thornton House and the Science Greenhouse.
Community and stewardship
Texas State aims to improve mobility on campus, while preserving Spring Lake and Sewell Park.
Texas State’s “vision” for Spring Lake includes a new academic center, welcome center, event pavilion, heritage walk, bluff trail, discovery peninsula and recreation corner. Notably, Texas State plans to restructure Aquarena Gateway and add a trail under.
New projects
- Castro Residence Hall: 2023-mid-2025
- South Endzone Complex: completed May 2025
- STEM Building: 2024-2027
- Hotel: planning and approval underway
- Academic Center: planning and approval underway
- Hilltop Housing Phase 2: pending design approval
- Baseball/Softball Club House: 2025-late 2028
- Lindsey Street Garage: mid-2025-mid-2027
- Indoor Practice Facility: 2028-late 2029
- Spring Lake Dam Replacement: 2028-late 2031
- Charles Austin Garage: 2030-late 2031
- Mitte Building Expansion: 2029-mid-2032
- Harris Dining Hall Expansion: mid-2030-mid-2032
- Music Building: 2033-late 2036
- Future Exhibition or Performance: 2033-late 2035
- Blanco Addition: 2035-late 2036
- Live Oak Garage: 2035-late 2036
- Arts/Academic Building: 2036-late 2038
- Student Health Center Expansion: proposed variable timeline
- Signature Bell Tower: proposed variable timeline
