Tarleton State university Kinesiology Renovation in Stephenville, TX

The Wisdom Gym Building at Tarleton State University in Stephenville is undergoing a targeted renovation to convert existing education and storage spaces into a Kinesiology-based kinetics lab. The project, filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) as the Tarleton State University Kinesiology Renovation, involves altering approximately 1,650 square feet of the first floor at 1525 W Vanderbilt St. Construction began in September 2026 and is scheduled to finish in March 2027.

Tarleton State University serves as the owner of record for this privately funded improvement on private land. The design firm of record is Parkhill, which has previously worked on other university and medical facilities across Texas. The estimated cost for the renovation is $600,000, equating to $364 per square foot. This figure is above the county median of $106 per square foot for similar renovation and alteration filings in Erath County, where the median estimated cost is $300,000.

The scope of work focuses specifically on the first-floor area, transforming functional spaces into a specialized laboratory environment. This aligns with the university’s broader investment in kinesiology infrastructure, as Tarleton State University has six other TDLR-registered projects totaling $10,254,475 in Stephenville. These include a $3,000,000 Kinesiology project that is already closed, indicating a sustained commitment to this academic discipline. The current renovation represents a focused update to existing facilities rather than new construction.

TDLR completed the plan review in October 2026, following the project's registration in August 2026. The construction window spans 182 days, which is longer than the 122-day median build window for renovation projects in Erath County. The local labor market in Erath County shows an unemployment rate of 4.3 percent which is higher than a year earlier.

Project Context and Comparisons

Compared to the 180 TDLR-registered renovation and alteration filings in Erath County, this project’s cost and per-square-foot rate are above the median figures. The median size for these filings is 4,768 square feet, while this project is smaller at 1,650 square feet. Parkhill, the design firm, has six other registered projects totaling $18,240,000, including the McMurry University Athletic Building and Covenant Medical Center facilities. This suggests a pattern of institutional and healthcare-focused design work across North Texas.

The project is situated in the Stephenville area, within ZIP code 76401. Census estimates for this area indicate a population of about 30,873 and a median household income of $60,864. The housing stock is mostly owner-occupied, with a median home value of $252,000. The renovation supports the university's academic mission by providing specialized lab space for kinesiology students and research.