In February 2022, TCU announced it would build a new home for its medical school in Fort Worth’s medical district.

Six months later, on a scorching August day, ground was broken at the northeast corner of South Henderson and West Rosedale streets. Slated to open in spring 2024, the state-of-the-art building will span 95,000 square feet across four floors.

“We wanted to carefully evolve the TCU architectural brand with a sense of craft and authenticity while being responsive to the more urban context in the Near Southside neighborhood,” said Jonathan Kanda, the Southern California-based lead architect on the project and principal at CO Architects. He worked with Hoefer Welker in North Texas on the designs.

Jason Soileau, TCU’s assistant vice chancellor for planning, design and construction, described the decision to string purple lights on the massive crane during construction as a team effort between TCU and Linbeck, the building contractor. 

Purple will also be incorporated in the building itself. 

“The view corridor from I-30 was recognized early in the design process and helped inform the design of the future purple-lit northwest stair tower on the building,” Soileau said.

During construction, the medical school’s temporary home is an office building called International Plaza in southwest Fort Worth.