Founders Hall: First Look | A Message from President Evans

Dear UIW Community,

Exciting progress is underway at the University of the Incarnate Word. I am delighted to share this first look inside Founders Hall produced for us by our architectural partners at Lake|Flato, who give us a glimpse into the incredible design in the making.

Purchased in 2019, Founders Hall is a nine-story, 380,000-square-foot historic building that expands the footprint of our land-locked Broadway campus by 20 percent and is the largest renovation project in UIW history. The building’s enormous size is matched by our responsibility to create a space that reflects our Mission, drives academic innovation, bridges cultures, elevates the student experience, respects our ecological surroundings, honors its historic significance and, ultimately, makes the absolute best use of every inch it affords us.

With that responsibility in mind, the process has been lengthy and not without its challenges. Yet, the care and duration of this project reflect our dedication to getting it right, and, as you will soon see, the results promise to be transformative.

This process has been the work of many hands. I want to thank all who have worked for years on developing Founders Hall, from the current and former Trustees and community leaders who steered us through its once-in-a-lifetime acquisition, to our academic, student and facilities leaders who contributed to its meticulous space planning, and to our financial and development professionals who managed our careful financing and fundraising.

As we continue with our renovations and move toward the 2026 opening, we will continue to provide progress updates via our new Founders Hall website and share more about the Founders Hall story.

Praised be the Incarnate Word!

Sincerely,
 
Thomas M. Evans, PhD
President