Tarleton State University LIllian Street Student Housing

Tarleton State University is constructing a new 920-bed student housing facility at 805 North Lillian Street in Stephenville. The project, filed as Tarleton State University LIllian Street Student Housing, is a new construction development estimated to cost $85,000,000. The building will encompass 217,390 sq ft of space, resulting in a cost of $391 per sq ft. This substantial addition to the university's infrastructure is registered with TDLR and is targeted for January 2027.

Project Scope and Design

PGAL, Inc. serves as the design firm of record for this development. The scope of work explicitly defines the project as a 920-bed student housing project at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX 76401. Belinda S Koestle is the registered accessibility specialist associated with the filing. The project involves public funds and public land, reflecting its status as a significant institutional investment. Construction began in August 2025, aligning with the initial registration date with the state.

PGAL, Inc. has substantial experience in the region and beyond. The firm has six other TDLR-registered projects totaling $111,703,556 in estimated costs. These include the STEM Classroom Building in San Marcos, valued at $102,782,192, and the Quarry Oaks II project in Austin. This track record suggests a capacity for managing large-scale educational and commercial developments. The Lillian Street project stands out for its size relative to other local filings.

Local Context and Comparison

In Erath County, the median estimated cost for new construction projects is $1,000,000, with a median size of 10,400 sq ft. The Lillian Street project significantly exceeds these figures, placing it in the top quarter for cost within the county’s recent filings. The scheduled build window for this project is 532 days, which is longer than the county median of 212 days. The cost per square foot of $391 is also above the county median of $191. These metrics indicate a high-complexity build typical of major university housing expansions.

Stephenville’s ZIP code 76401 has a population of about 30,873, with a median household income of $60,864. There are approximately 13,826 housing units in the area, mostly owner-occupied. The addition of 920 new beds will impact the local housing market and student population dynamics. The project is one of several registered developments in the area, including the Springhill Suites by Marriott and various renovations to existing university facilities like the Clyde H. Wells Fine Arts Center.

The project status is Project Registered with TDLR. Plan review is pending. The construction timeline is set to conclude in early 2027, providing a clear milestone for completion. This new construction represents a major capital improvement for Tarleton State University and the broader Stephenville community.