Defining the place 

Consistency over time matters. That's the underlying design principle that has guided campus development for nearly a century. From the unique building characteristics to the configuration of outdoor spaces, TCU’s built environment has maintained the consistency, quality and cohesion of the Beaux-Arts style, neoclassical buildings first constructed on the Forth Worth campus, established in 1910.

Working in association with Fort Worth-based Hahnfeld Hoffer Stanford Architects (HHS) on many projects, our team has helped TCU create an environment that looks and feels “like TCU.” The result has delivered a campus with a rich and enduring visual presence. 

Students, faculty, alumni and parents revere the campus, and the extended TCU community regularly expresses their passion and commitment to the institution. Designed to engender a familial energy among campus students and visitors alike, the physical environment makes a strong impression on prospective students and families. 

The spaces in between 

The campus buildings have a distinct look and feel, but the physical attributes that make TCU feel like a “special place” rest largely in the outdoor spaces between the buildings. The interplay and dialogue between open space and buildings have a major influence on how people move across campus, where and how social interactions take place, how health, safety and wellness are maintained, and how the campus environment contributes to intellectual, inspirational and personal growth.

Open spaces foster social intersections and create opportunities for small-group teaching and collaboration. The informal gathering places and spaces for students, faculty, staff and visitors encourage learning, promote programmatic and campus synergies and are core to the TCU experience. Properly proportioned spaces for these environments are deliberately created by thoughtful building placement.

Transforming campus culture 

TCU is committed to an ongoing journey of building an environment where all feel welcome, represented and celebrated. One of the projects birthed from that mission is the Intercultural Center (ICC). It's a dynamic, repurposed space housed in the Brown-Lupton University Union designed to welcome all and be comfortable for underrepresented communities, establishing a home where they feel seen, heard and celebrated. 

The ICC was designed to serve minority students by honoring the beauty in their differences, championing inclusivity, social justice, advocacy and diversity. The energetic space is a respite where minority students feel a special sense of pride and ownership. Its authentic design elements blossomed from numerous design charrettes with students of color to gain insight into features that would help deliver a sense of belonging.

A snapshot of our work together

In March 1999, TCU selected CannonDesign to design an expanded student recreation center. It marked the beginning of an evolving partnership that now spans over two decades and has contributed to the growth and improvement of the TCU campus through several transformative projects. From master planning and new construction to feasibility studies and renovation, our design team has partnered with campus leaders to bring the long-term institutional vision to life through more than 30 projects.