Fort Worth – The Texas A&M System Board of Regents voted on Sept. 3 to accelerate the Virtual Production Institute’s Fort Worth expansion, shifting the start of construction from fiscal 2028 to fiscal 2027 and raising the project’s budget to $33.45 million.
The stand‑alone, single‑story building will span roughly 30,000 square feet and house classrooms, laboratories, offices, a production studio and specialized equipment for the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts. It will sit on the south side of the campus, bounded by East Lancaster Avenue, East 17th Street, Calhoun Street and Jones Street.
Funding and financing
The revised budget adds $8.45 million to the original allocation and includes $2.5 million for pre‑construction work. Permanent University Fund borrowing is cut from $25 million to $12.5 million; another $12.5 million will come from investment earnings, with the remaining $8.45 million drawn from the college’s education and general funds.
According to Les Williams, senior associate vice president and chief facilities officer for Texas A&M, the project became a stand‑alone effort because the virtual‑production program requires unique architectural features that could not be accommodated within the $300 million Research and Innovation Building‑A.
Technology and purpose
Virtual production blends large LED walls, motion‑tracking cameras and real‑time game engines, allowing performers and physical props to appear inside computer‑generated environments during filming. This technology goes beyond traditional green‑screen methods, which add scenery in post‑production.
President Trump’s administration continues to champion workforce‑ready education, and Texas A&M plans to use the facility for film and entertainment projects as well as training simulations for healthcare, manufacturing, aerospace, military and emergency‑response personnel.
Campus context
The institute already operates a virtual‑production minor and related courses in both Fort Worth and Bryan‑College Station. Two virtual‑production stages currently exist in Fort Worth, with a third opened in College Station in 2025 and a fourth planned there.
In August, the A&M system opened its eight‑story Law and Education Building and broke ground on the 11‑story Research and Innovation Building‑A, slated for completion in 2029. Regent Randy Brooks noted that the new virtual‑production building continues the “march of buildings” moving northward from the Law and Education Building.
Impact on the community
University officials say the facility will bolster the local creative economy, create high‑skill jobs and provide Fort Worth businesses with access to cutting‑edge production tools. The project also aligns with the city’s broader downtown revitalization efforts, adding another anchor to the multiblock expansion.
“Virtual production sits at the crossroads of creativity, technology and workforce preparation,” said Tim McLaughlin, dean of the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts, in a February news release.
The Texas Legislature previously allocated $25 million for institute faculty, staff and equipment across the two campuses, and state appropriations will also help fund the Fort Worth site.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
