The future campus fulfills ACC’s 2022 bond promise to support the evolving workforce needs

Austin Community College District (ACC) has purchased a 560,000-square-foot building complex to rapidly expand high-demand workforce training programs in Southeast Travis County. 

The property, located near the airport and within Del Valle ISD, was acquired on Wednesday, April 15, for $130,500,000. The purchase is funded through the College’s 2022 General Obligation Bond.

“Our decision to acquire and repurpose an existing facility not only saves us more than $100 million, it also enables us to begin serving current and future students districtwide — including those in Southeast Travis and Del Valle, where interest is high, and industry has experienced substantial growth — years earlier than projected,” says Sean Hassan, ACC Board of Trustees Chair. “This purchase fulfills a promise we made to voters in the 2022 General Obligation Bond to expand access and capacity in high‑demand careers that directly support the region’s growing workforce needs.”

By renovating an existing facility rather than building from the ground up, the College can create spaces that reflect student and workforce needs while cutting the cost of construction and saving taxpayer dollars.

  • Building a Talent Pipeline: This site will become the permanent home of the Infrastructure Academy and a premier hub for applied technologies and skilled trades featuring specialized classes and labs for advanced manufacturing, building construction technology, automotive technology, heating, air & refrigeration technology, welding, and other crafts.
  • Faster Progress: The purchase accelerates ACC’s timeline, allowing the College to open new training facilities and classrooms in one to three years rather than waiting for a new campus to be built.
  • Fiscally Responsible Growth: This approach saves the College more than $100 million compared to the estimated cost of new construction. 

“This is about more than a building. It is about expanding what is possible for our students and our community. It allows us to move faster, open more doors, and connect people to real opportunity as our region continues to grow,” says ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart. “We are not just creating space. We are building for what’s next. We will do it the right way, by planning with the people we serve and building something that reflects their future.”

Additional Details

Once built out, the complex will become the College’s second-largest campus, just behind the ACC Highland Campus. 

  • The facility will be the front door for the Infrastructure Academy in partnership with the City of Austin, Workforce Solutions Capital Area, and many other community partners.
  • The first phase is expected to serve up to 3,000 students, with significant room to expand over time.
  • The site is located near public transportation lines and includes ample parking. 
  • The complex features flexible space to support robust student support services.
  • The campus will offer customized learning experiences and labs for industry partnerships and programs. 

Next, the College will begin planning and programming for the new complex. A groundbreaking is expected in the coming months. For updates on this and all 2022 G.O. bond projects, visit austincc.edu/bond.