TCU wants to create an entirely residential campus, which means oodles of construction (and more requests for mom and dad to reload the campus dining card).

Studies show that students who live on campus have higher graduation rates. TCU now requires both freshmen and sophomores to live on campus, so more sophomore housing was needed, says KSQ Architects principal David Short (right, with KSQ partners Armand Quadrini and Garret Krishan in the West Indies in November). The additional student housing is being added in TCU's Worth Hills Village, across the street from the main campus. David says Worth Hills, delivering in phases, should take about 10 years to complete.

Marion and Clark Halls, a two-building residence hall offering 400 suite-style student beds designed for sophomores, opened in August. That brick is the patented-TCU buff-color, joining other TCU touches of a Ludowici tile roof and limestone accents. (Has anyone patented coffee stain brown on white blouse? It's our trademark hue.) The barrel-vault archway is the signature design element that serves as a connector to the surrounding campus. These $37M upper-division residence halls were part of the first phase. To come: a parking structure (in 2015), a dining/multipurpose building, Greek Village, and upperclassmen housing. All will ultimately house 1,800 students.

Here’s a third residence hall that should be ready for fall occupancy. (Being built by The Beck Group.) It’s a lot like building a mini-city, David says, with lots of infrastructure work required. Other construction projects planned or in the works: data center improvements, Mary Couts Burnett Library renovation, an expansion of the Neeley School of Business, and Daniel-Meyer Coliseum renovation (which starts after basketball season ends--or whenever the opposing team is shooting a foul shot).