“The opportunity to acquire One Riverwalk Place is of great strategic importance to us. It is adjacent to our Southwest Campus, offers programming and placemaking opportunities, and is an incredible building and facility for our great interests in academic innovation and the arts,” said UTSA President Taylor Eighmy“The acquisition of One Riverwalk Place underscores our commitment to expansion, collaboration and community engagement in downtown San Antonio while empowering our students to learn the skills they need to succeed.”
UTSA plans to house academic departments and support services at One Riverwalk Place and explore opportunities for ground-floor retail space. This is consistent with the university’s long-term vision, supported by the Campus Master Plan, to locate downtown academic programs that will most benefit from co-locating with businesses and community partners in San Antonio’s urban core.
Following Board approval, UTSA will engage academic colleges and community stakeholders in a district planning process next year. This process will involve detailed planning of specific areas or districts around the university with the goal of creating a dynamic campus environment that is functional, sustainable and allows for the best use of space. The district planning process will take place throughout the 2024-2025 academic year and has a goal of beginning the first moves into One Riverwalk Place in summer 2025.
“The Downtown Campus, anchored in San Antonio’s technology corridor, provides a unique environment to drive economic development, increase social mobility and support workforce talent,” said Veronica SalazarExecutive Vice President for Business Affairs and Chief Financial Officer of UTSA. “Our continued investment in downtown San Antonio promises to be a positive development for San Antonio and the overall growth of the university.”
In recent years, the university has made significant progress in realizing its vision to develop its downtown campuses. Most recently, in January 2024, UTSA announced the creation of a new college specializing in artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, computer science, data science and related disciplines. This new college 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 15,000-square-foot, $91.8 million building houses 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 same year, UTSA began construction on San Pedro II, a project adjacent to San Pedro I that will focus on innovation, entrepreneurship and careers. The 180,000-square-foot, $124 million facility will provide training opportunities to prepare students for careers in interdisciplinary fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, computer and data science. Program efforts will focus on connecting the business community with undergraduate and graduate students and creating the necessary environment for internships and experiential learning to support student success.
“Together, San Pedro I and San Pedro II are changing the university landscape in the inner city,” said Heather ShipleyUTSA Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. “These facilities offer tremendous opportunities to collaborate to meet San Antonio’s workforce needs while providing students with meaningful, career-focused learning.”
In addition to the focus on the San Pedro block, UTSA’s downtown development has also focused on expanding access to the arts. In July 2022, the university merged with the Southwest School of Art, reaffirming 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 the San Antonio Central Library.
Together, these milestones have more than doubled UTSA’s downtown footprint over the past five years. As the university has expanded, so have the 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 electric shuttle that provides safe, fast and reliable transportation between UTSA’s downtown campuses.
The university’s planned growth will continue over the next five years, as the institution continues to pursue President Taylor Eighmy’s stated goal of reaching an enrollment of 41,000 and attracting 10,000 students to the downtown area.
The UT System Board of Regents is expected to vote on the acquisition of One Riverwalk Place during its meeting on August 21 and 22. UTSA will keep the university community updated during the fall semester.
