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Southwestern University 560 Proposed Rendering
Proposed rendering of 67-acre phase 1A of the Southwestern University 560 (click to enlarge)

Southwestern
University 560

A Visionary Environment for Learning, Innovation, and Community

Amid Central Texas’ rapid growth, the Southwestern University 560 takes a purposeful path, preserving a strong sense of place while embodying the values of Southwestern University. This intentionally designed development integrates housing, industry, retail, the arts, and green spaces to enrich the lives of students, faculty, staff, and neighbors alike. Unlike typical developments, it reimagines growth as a bold opportunity to affirm our identity and creates meaningful opportunities that strengthen our community.

Planned Features

Cultural Venue

The heart of Phase 1 is envisioned as a cultural hub. Plans call for a signature facility that may include a music hall, art gallery, museum, or other performance and exhibition spaces serving both the University and the wider region. This facility is imagined as the potential centerpiece of the district—a dynamic venue that could elevate Southwestern’s cultural offerings and further position Georgetown as an emerging destination for the arts in Central Texas.

Artscape

An Artscape will connect the campus to the development – both physically and spiritually – and is designed to commission art from national and regional artists, as well as student visual art that rotates on a semester-by-semester basis.

Eco Gateway

An expansion of the existing Ecolab, the Eco Gateway will be a secluded preserve where students will conduct research, enjoy shaded natural areas, and work to restore and protect vibrant habitats. The 70-acre Eco Gateway will be enhanced by a trail system that incorporates thoughtful natural landscaping throughout the development.

Mixed-Use Residential

Mixed-Use Residential integrated across the development will meet the needs of Southwestern students, faculty, staff, their families, and individuals from the region in this rapidly growing region who want to be part of a thoughtful community. Types of housing will vary – all connected by Southwestern’s values.

Boutique Hotel

A Boutique Hotel site is planned to accommodate visitors to Southwestern’s campus – including parents, alumni, and prospective students, as well as the City of Georgetown community and special events, such as concerts happening at the development.

Retail, Office, & Research Space

Retail, Office, and Research space is planned and will spur economic growth and advance regional prosperity by establishing mutually-beneficial partnerships with industry and commerce to create opportunities for students and community paid internships, employment, and innovation, especially in growing fields such as high tech, data, medicine, and alternative energy.

Phase 1

The first 67-acre phase of development will be an active and walkable district with a strong sense of place and a diverse mix of uses. The program uses will synergistically interact with one another. The initial phase will respond to the realities of the real estate market with efficient backbone infrastructure and scalable, shared parking. It is planned to include:

  • 110,000 SF office and research
  • 45,000 SF retail
  • 150 multifamily homes
  • 110,000 SF hotel and conference
  • 38,000 SF entertainment venue
  • 35 acres of parks and open space

Vision

Southwestern University 560 Logo Detail

In the heart of Central Texas, growth is all around us. With Austin expanding rapidly and tech giants reshaping the region’s landscape, Georgetown has become the fastest-growing city in America, adding over 15,000 residents since 2020. As its population is expected to surpass 200,000 within five years, Southwestern University is determined to grow alongside Georgetown while staying true to its values.

The Southwestern University 560 is a bold response to this rapid expansion—one that reflects our mission and preserves our sense of place, connection, and purpose. Rather than being swept up by the momentum of unplanned growth, this initiative reimagines development as a thoughtful expression of our ideals. Under the leadership of President Laura Skandera Trombley, the University launched this visionary project to transform 560 contiguous acres into a vibrant community that deepens our connection to Georgetown, creates a Central Texas intellectual and arts hub, and strengthens our national reputation.

Southwestern University Banners

Rooted in sustainability and innovation, this development integrates housing, industry, retail, the arts, and green spaces to enrich students, faculty, staff, and neighbors. It reflects a commitment to thoughtful design and long-term impact, guided by 12 core principles that emphasize connection, creativity, and purpose. These principles aim to establish a unique, sustainable living and learning community, foster business innovation, create a cultural destination, support the arts, and solidify Southwestern’s national identity.

This is more than just managing growth—it is shaping it with intention. By embracing our liberal arts mission and planning for future generations, we are crafting a model for development that reflects who we are while enhancing our community and region.

Learn more about the vision in Southwestern’s Land Development Value Statement and 12 Guiding Principles.

Partnerships

City of Georgetown Logo

The City of Georgetown is a vital partner in shaping the future of the Southwestern University 560 development. Committed to fostering community growth and sustainability, the City plays an active role in guiding the project to ensure it meets the evolving needs of residents, businesses, and future generations. Through shared vision and continuous feedback, the City of Georgetown helps create a dynamic, community-focused environment that supports innovation, education, and economic vitality.

Banbury Development Logo

Banbury Development creates vibrant communities through comprehensive land and vertical development. The Banbury team brings an average of nearly 20 years of collaborative experience. As of 2025, Banbury Development has more than 1,150 acres of completed mixed-use projects and nearly 1,300 acres under development management. Banbury Development partners with both public and private landowners to craft purposeful spaces and prioritizes inclusivity and transparency in the development process. The team is committed to excellence in every project, often showcasing sustainability efforts, affordable housing, and other community benefits, from initial concept to final completion.

News & Updates

Frequently Asked Questions

General

The Southwestern University 560 represents an intentional and visionary development designed to honor and enhance the character of the area while addressing the region’s rapid growth. Rooted in Southwestern’s liberal arts mission and values of connection, creativity, and purpose, this project balances thoughtful development with the preservation of natural beauty.

This 560-acre legacy initiative reflects the University’s commitment to sustainability, learning, and fostering a vibrant community that benefits Georgetown and beyond. By integrating environmentally sustainable green spaces, innovative housing, and cultural features like an Artscape and Eco Gateway, the project is planned to preserve the area’s natural tranquility while creating new opportunities for intellectual and cultural engagement.

The Southwestern University 560 will create strong physical and functional connections with the main campus, extending its mission and values into a dynamic new district. Pedestrian pathways and shared spaces are designed to seamlessly link the campus to the development, while multi-use facilities promote interaction and collaboration.

The development will serve as an extension of the University’s educational environment:

  • Research and Innovation Hub: Spaces within the development will support faculty and student research, fostering interdisciplinary exploration and innovation.
  • Internships and Experiential Learning: Businesses and organizations located in the development may offer opportunities for students to engage in internships and experiential learning, advancing their education and career preparation.
  • Housing: Mixed-use residential areas will provide convenient, sustainable living options for faculty, staff, students, and citizens of Georgetown, strengthening ties between the campus and the community.
  • Cultural and Intellectual Engagement: Facilities like the Civic Hall and Artscape may host events, performances, and programming that enrich the intellectual and cultural life of the campus and the surrounding region.

This integration ensures that the Southwestern University 560 will become an essential hub for education, innovation, and community engagement.

The Southwestern University 560 is in the early stages of planning for its first phase. Zoning and permitting will begin in 2025 with the first buildings opening as early as 2027.

Absolutely. The Southwestern 560 is designed to be a seamless part of both the campus and the surrounding city—open and welcoming to the entire community. Neighbors will be able to enjoy expansive green spaces, walkable connections, unique retail and entertainment options, and opportunities to become part of the development as business owners, employees, or even future residents.

Yes. Open space is a key part of the vision for The Southwestern 560. The Eco Gateway, for example, will serve as a living classroom and community hub. In fact, the very first phase of development will include around 35 acres of public open space, with more to come across the 560 acres as the project grows.

Yes. The first phase is planned to include approximately 45,000 square feet of thoughtfully curated retail space, offering a mix of shops, dining, and gathering places for both neighbors and visitors.

Design and Environment

The Southwestern University 560 embraces a design philosophy that respects local traditions while adopting a contemporary style. Architecture will feature materials that reflect the area’s vernacular while integrating innovative, modern aesthetics.

Collaborative planning with local stakeholders will ensure harmony between the development and Old Town’s established design standards, preserving cultural continuity and enhancing the district’s unique character.

To ensure our design standards are met, a diverse Architectural Review Committee will assess each development multiple times during the design and construction process.

The development prioritizes human-scale design, with low- to mid-rise buildings that harmonize with the landscape and surrounding structures. Open spaces, terraces, and courtyards will provide light and air, ensuring an inviting and accessible environment. The architecture avoids dense massing, instead embracing thoughtful siting and integration with the area’s natural topography and vegetation.

The Southwestern University 560 will prioritize the pedestrian experience with sidewalks, ample trees, and ground-floor retail or customer-facing services.

Preliminary sound tests have demonstrated no significant noise impact on surrounding areas, but The Southwestern 560 will continue to evaluate venue designs and sound mitigation. The venue is planned to include modern acoustic technology and thoughtful siting within the development to ensure minimal disruption while providing a vibrant cultural asset to the community.

The Southwestern University 560 is designed to integrate seamlessly with the Texas Hill Country landscape. Key features include shaded pathways, native canopy trees, boardwalks in sensitive areas, and preservation of streams and ponds. At the heart of this effort is the Eco Gateway, a natural research and conservation area. It serves as both an ecological preserve and an outdoor learning lab where students and researchers work to restore habitats, conduct environmental research, and promote native biodiversity. The development emphasizes ecological continuity, sustainability, and a deep respect for the natural environment, weaving these elements into every aspect of its design to create a timeless and unified landscape.

Absolutely. The plan prioritizes walkable pathways, bike-share hubs, and immersive pedestrian experiences. Shaded trails connect key areas while preserving ecological zones. These pathways are designed to encourage exploration, blending the urban and natural landscapes into an inviting environment for visitors and residents alike.

Parking and transportation have been thoughtfully planned to mitigate overflow into nearby neighborhoods. The development will include structured and surface parking to serve residents, visitors, and event-goers, all coordinated through a shared parking strategy. Ongoing traffic studies—including traffic impact analyses—will help guide future street connections, road improvements, and development density and these studies are updated regularly to reflect changing conditions.

Business and Cultural Features

The development will host a mix of businesses designed to complement the Georgetown community and the Southwestern campus. These may include a concert venue, civic building, boutique hotel, retail, restaurants, research, and office spaces.

If you’d like to submit your favorite business, restaurant, or shop for consideration, please send us a note using our contact form.

Art and culture are foundational to the development. The development is planned to include integrated public art, iconic architectural elements, and spaces like the Artscape serving as cultural and social magnets. Features may include rotating exhibits of student and professional art, functional art elements such as artistic benches and wayfinding, and multi-use spaces for performances and gatherings. These elements celebrate local heritage while fostering creative exploration and community engagement.

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