Dallas College Advances Landmark Vision for Next-Generation Downtown Campus and Knowledge District, Selects A Development Group led by Matthews

Media Contact: Liz Scruggs; MScruggs@DallasCollege.edu

For immediate release — June 24, 2026

Dallas College Advances Landmark Vision for Next-Generation Downtown Campus and Knowledge District, Selects A Development Group led by Matthews 

A transformative investment connecting education, industry and opportunity at the heart of Dallas 

DALLAS – Demonstrating a deep and enduring commitment to downtown Dallas, regional economic mobility and expanded access to education, Dallas College has determined to enter into exclusive negotiations with a development group led by Matthews to advance its landmark downtown development project, an initiative that will transform its historic El Centro Campus into a next-generation campus and knowledge district along the Austin Street corridor.

“This is a defining moment for Dallas College,” said Justin H. Lonon, chancellor of Dallas College. “Through this investment, Dallas College will expand opportunity, strengthen workforce alignment and reimagine how education connects to the economic future of Dallas and North Texas. We are reimagining what a college can be by creating a next-generation downtown campus that serves as a convener of education, industry and opportunity. This vision reflects our commitment to expanding access, accelerating economic mobility and strengthening the regional workforce. We are building a model for the college of the future, deeply connected to the economy, embedded in the life of the city and designed to drive talent and innovation at scale. We appreciate the Board’s stewardship as we have navigated this important journey.”

Paul Mayer, chair, Dallas College Board of Trustees, added, “This vision represents a deliberate step forward in aligning Dallas College with the evolving needs of our regional economy and workforce. By integrating education, industry and experiential learning, we are creating more direct, responsive pathways between classroom and career while positioning Dallas College to meet the future demands of North Texas.”

Located at the site of the college’s first campus, opened in 1966, the reimagined Dallas College Downtown Campus will evolve into a dynamic, future-ready urban higher education environment. The scope and scale of development will be shaped by the range of academic, workforce and community programming delivered on-site, ensuring a flexible and responsive footprint aligned with student, employer, and community needs. The campus will connect West End Station to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center and bring together five of Dallas’ most important districts into a cohesive corridor of learning, innovation and economic activity.

The development site is unmatched in its geographic and economic significance. It is the only location in downtown Dallas where five major districts converge: the Arts District, Historic West End, Central Business District, Reunion Station & Industrial District and the emerging Convention Center and Entertainment District. This rare convergence enables a bold vision: a connected urban corridor anchored by Dallas College, linking culture, commerce, transit and education in one place.

“Dallas College is advancing a bold, transformative vision for the future of higher education and workforce alignment,” said Jack Matthews, president of Matthews. “We are honored to partner with the college and its leadership to help bring that vision to life, creating a dynamic, highly connected environment where students, industry and community converge and where opportunity is visible, accessible and integrated into the fabric of the City of Dallas.”

The Dallas College downtown campus is envisioned to be organized around two integrated anchors:  

• Academic and Student Life Core: Featuring a welcome center, modern classrooms, advanced labs, learning commons, childcare, an early college high school and student life spaces designed to support access, persistence and completion
• Innovation and Industry Hub: A forward-facing ecosystem where employers, entrepreneurs and academic programs converge, creating direct pathways between education and high-demand careers

The development prioritizes transit-oriented, walkable design, integrating into downtown Dallas and leveraging proximity to major transit hubs. This intentional connectivity will help expand opportunity by: 

• Increasing access to internships, jobs and apprenticeships
• Enabling deeper employer engagement within the campus environment
• Supporting entrepreneurship through proximity and collaboration
• Strengthening Dallas College’s role as a civic and economic anchor

Together, these components establish a new model for higher education in Dallas — embedded, experiential and closely aligned with workforce needs — serving up to 30,000 students and community partners. 

The Dallas College Downtown Development Project is a cornerstone of Dallas College’s long-term capital strategy supported by the $1.1 billion bond program approved by Dallas County voters in May 2019. 

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About Dallas College 

Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2025, Dallas College consists of seven campuses — Brookhaven, Cedar Valley, Eastfield, El Centro, Mountain View, North Lake and Richland — plus a dozen centers located throughout Dallas County. As one of the largest community colleges in the U.S., Dallas College offers online and in-person learning, serving more than 127,000 credit, workforce and continuing education students annually. Students benefit from partnerships with local school districts, four-year universities, industry and community leaders. Dallas College offers associate degrees and career/technical certificate programs in more than 100 areas of study, as well as bachelor’s degrees in education, nursing, software development and management. As the largest provider of dual credit in Texas, Dallas College serves 30,000 high school students through 63 dual credit programs.  

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