Ryan Foundation Contributes $2 Million to Texas A&M-Fort Worth
July 11,2024
The Thomas M., Helen McKee & John P. Ryan Foundation has committed a $2 million leadership gift to support Texas A&M-Fort Worth, an ambitious 3.5-acre urban innovation campus under construction in the southeast quadrant of Downtown Fort Worth.
“We are pleased to be a part of this project, which will make such a huge impact on Fort Worth over the next decade and beyond,” said John P. Ryan, Jr., chairman of the Ryan Foundation.
As Texas A&M's impact in North Texas continues to grow, the development of the new campus — currently the site of Texas A&M University School of Law and adjacent property — will offer a dynamic platform for academic and industry engagement for years to come.
A partnership between the Texas A&M University System, the City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and key industry partners, the campus will focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, research and development, and workforce training, serving as a home for academic programs across multiple disciplines and offering opportunities for industry co-location and collaboration.
"We are immensely grateful for the Ryan Foundation's generosity. Together, we are building an urban campus that will facilitate academic and industry collaborations and foster new innovations that none of us can even imagine today," said Bobby Ahdieh, chief operating officer of Texas A&M-Fort Worth and dean of Texas A&M Law. "The Ryan Foundation's philanthropic contribution is a major vote of confidence and indication of the importance of this project for our community."
The eight-story Law & Education Building is currently under construction and will be a hub for student education across a wide range of disciplines, including biotechnology, business, engineering, health sciences, medical laboratory sciences, nursing, virtual production, and more. Featuring state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories, it will also support the growth of the law school and new programs offered by Tarleton State University, a member institution of the Texas A&M University System. The facility is scheduled to be completed in late 2025.
Local community leaders echo the excitement about the campus and its landmark potential for the region.
"Innovation districts can play a major role in driving economic growth. As the catalyst for an urban innovation district, Texas A&M-Fort Worth is uniquely positioned to help Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and the Metroplex grow high-wage jobs, to contribute to a more sustainable tax base, and to aid in attracting and retaining high-growth businesses and young professionals," said Betsy Price, former mayor of Fort Worth. "It's a huge win, with rippling benefits for future generations."
The campus' second multi-unit facility, the Research & Innovation Building, is currently being planned and designed. It will bring academia and industry together, supporting research collaborations and new innovations that will propel economic growth in the region and beyond. This state-of-the-art facility will provide opportunities for North Texas' most innovative companies to partner with Texas A&M in specialized R&D facilities and 'front door' office space that will bring top academic experts and industry talent together.
Program offerings anticipated to operate in the Research & Innovation Building include agriculture, biotechnology, engineering, health science, law, virtual production, and more. Additionally, the facility will be home to regional offices of several Texas A&M System agencies, including the Texas Division of Emergency Management, the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute.
Location Mentioned: Texas A&M Fort Worth