Texas A&M Opens Fort Worth Campus ― And It’s Just The Beginning

The Texas A&M System and community leaders gathered Wednesday morning for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of the Texas A&M-Fort Worth Law & Education Building. The opening of the eight-story, 228,000-square-foot facility marks the first academic building to arrive in Fort Worth. But the new 3.5-acre downtown campus is only getting started, and the entire System is putting down real roots in Cowtown.

Tarleton State is part of the A&M System as well, and it is currently growing its footprint and campus in far west Fort Worth.

So, Tarleton State University leaders, faculty, staff and students joined in the celebration as well. “Tarleton State’s presence reflects the collaborative model behind Texas A&M-Fort Worth, which brings universities, state agencies and industry partners together on one downtown campus,” according to a release.

“As North Texas continues to grow, Tarleton State University is expanding programs that align with the region’s evolving workforce needs,” says Tarleton State president Dr. James Hurley. “Biotechnology, biomedical science, medical laboratory science and histotechnology offer students strong career pathways while supplying employers with highly skilled graduates. Our partnership at Texas A&M-Fort Worth demonstrates what is possible when institutions work together to advance student success and regional growth.”

It’s More Than a Law School Y’all

While most of Fort Worth has been calling it the A&M Law School during the construction phase, the building is actually the Law & Education Building (or LEB for short). “Occupying three floors of the building, Tarleton State will offer academic programs in biotechnology, biomedical science, medical laboratory science and histotechnology,” they say.

Later plans include graduate-level nursing and integrative biology, too. Plus, the new building will serve as the local hub for short-term, noncredit training through its Office of Extended Education and Workforce Development.

“The Law & Education Building enables us to place high-demand health sciences and STEM-related programs in the heart of Fort Worth’s new Switchyard Innovation District,” says Dr. Rachael Capua, vice president for external operations and dean of Tarleton State Fort Worth. “This location will give students valuable access to clinical, laboratory and workforce partners while helping address critical needs in a rapidly growing region.”

The addition of the A&M campus is a major shift, along with the new Convention Center that is still to come, they will reshape the downtown corridor.

The A&M System Is Putting Down Roots In Fort Worth

A&M is the largest educational system in the state of Texas. It opened in 1876 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas ― the state’s first public institution of higher learning. And College Station has continued to mushroom ever since. Not even a Dixie Chicken can cross the road there.

Tarleton State dates back to 1887. It was founded in nearby Stephenville, and became part of the A&M System in 1973.

“Its presence in Fort Worth dates to 1978, when the university began offering medical laboratory science classes on West Myrtle Street,” they say. “The university later operated at several locations, including the Richard C. Schaffer Educational Building on Enderly Place and the Hickman Building on Camp Bowie Boulevard, before expanding to Tarleton State University Fort Worth along Chisholm Trail Parkway.”

This week’s grand opening ceremony also included a groundbreaking for Research & Innovation Building A, which is the second facility planned for Texas A&M-Fort Worth. “The building is expected to support public- and private-sector research in engineering, aerospace, agriculture, health sciences and emergency response. Tarleton State plans to house its Institute for Biotechnology Research and Innovation there and expand medical laboratory science research.”

While Tarleton State’s colors are a very suitable purple and white ― with the arrival of A&M Law School, Fort Worth will now find itself embracing a touch of maroon as well.