As the population of Central Texas booms, Southwestern University is keeping pace by implementing a new model for higher education through a 560-acre mixed-use development neighboring its Georgetown campus. The university expects to break ground on Phase 1 in September.
Dubbed Southwestern University 560 (SU 560), the site epitomizes a visionary environment geared to intersect learning with community. Rather than prioritize academic facilities or research capacity, SU 560 embraces the university’s liberal arts and sciences mission by creating opportunities for new tenants that connect education, business, public life and government.
The city of Georgetown is among the first to put wind in the project’s sails after announcing that it will locate its new customer service center in the development. This milestone legitimizes the university’s vision and opens the door to new additions to the site.
The three-story, 75,000-square-foot center will be a cornerstone of the mixed-use development’s first phase. The facility will consolidate 13 city departments and provide a variety of customer-facing services. The first floor is expected to house the utility billing department, an IT data center, public meeting spaces, the economic development department and retail areas.
The city will dedicate the second and third floors to other departments. These will include development services, human resources, code compliance, a remote police office, remote library lockers and book drops.
The development will ultimately feature a mix of various amenities and designated spaces. Phase 1 alone is expected to include:
- 110,000 square feet of office and research space.
- 45,000 square feet of retail.
- A 110,000-square-foot hotel and conference center.
- A 38,000-square-foot entertainment venue.
- 150 multifamily homes.
- 35 acres of parks, open space and greenspace.
- Parking lots.
SU 560’s core purpose will be to serve as a centralized, integrated environment where students, residents, entrepreneurs, businesses, researchers and leaders exist in a shared community. Realizing this vision will hinge on the university’s investments in civic spaces, employment centers, housing, retail spaces, hospitality, arts and culture, research, industrial areas and walkable communities.
Photo by Matthew Rutledge (rutlo), CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, from Wikimedia Commons
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