Building the "place to be"
TCU’s Berry Street makeover hopes to reshape the corridor and renew attention on pedestrian safety
Sounds of construction fill the air on the east side of campus.
A crane looms over the horizon as cars bustle up and down West Berry Street, as students weave between vehicles on their way to class.
The first phase of the West Berry Street makeover is well underway with the emergence of the frame of the Morado on Berry.
The pair of luxury apartment-style buildings will bring street-level retail and fully furnished apartments for upper-division and graduate students.
"The Berry Street corridor from University Drive to McCart Avenue will be transformed into a vibrant mixed-use edge and destination for students, faculty, staff, and the broader Fort Worth community."
A New Era for West Berry Street
The Morado on Berry project, which broke ground in April 2025, is the first step in TCU's vision to transform the Berry Street corridor into the “place to be,” as outlined in the 2024 TCU Campus Master Plan.
“What makes this corridor unique from other campus development is that it is envisioned to be an ‘urban expression’ of the TCU aesthetic,” said Assistant Vice Chancellor Jason Soileau.
The 2024 Master Plan includes plans for multiple campus additions along West Berry Street over the next decade, signaling a change that will reshape the corridor with new student housing, parking spaces, and academic facilities while creating a more walkable, vibrant connection between TCU and the surrounding community.
Morado on Berry project via MoradoonBerry.com (June 26, 2025 - December 9, 2025)
Morado on Berry project via MoradoonBerry.com (June 26, 2025 - December 9, 2025)
Pedestrian Safety on Berry Called Into Question
Even with the excitement surrounding the corridor’s transformation, many students point out that West Berry Street still poses a basic problem the university must address: pedestrian safety.
“I have to cross West Berry Street every day to get to class and it’s always a nightmare,” said senior economics major Jack Di Vito. “I’m hopeful the new developments will make it safer, because right now it’s still stressful and chaotic.”
Di Vito’s experience is echoed by others.
“Vehicles fly down West Berry like it’s a freeway,” said Kiley Churchill, a junior strategic communication major. “Even when I’m using the crosswalk I have to stay alert so I don’t get hit by a car.”
Junior finance-real estate major Robbie Walsh said, “The recent construction has made the street more chaotic than ever.
TCU officials have acknowledged this sentiment.
“Student safety is paramount to all TCU campus development,” said Soileau. “The Berry Street corridor is being planned and designed to enhance the campus experience for students, alumni and visitors, providing a walkable and safe environment that is expected to foster a regional destination.”
The planning takes into account both the current conditions and anticipated changes that the redevelopment will bring to the corridor.
“Pedestrian improvements are being carefully planned and coordinated with the City of Fort Worth, and safety measures have been coordinated with TCU and City of Fort Worth police and safety officials,” said Soileau.
A Corridor in Transition
The proposed changes not only hope to reshape the physical landscape of West Berry Street – they will affect the students, organizations and businesses that inhabit the buildings destined to be torn down before construction can begin.
TCU has already purchased the properties housing TCU Catholic, Kubes Jewelers, and King’s Liquor, but the university has yet to outline a timeline for redevelopment on these buildings.
“Future projects will be determined to align with campus priorities and funding availability,” said Soileau.
For TCU Catholic, the university plans have forced them to relocate to a new building further down West Berry Street on the same side of the road. Complications with the new space have displaced them until March 2026.
Still, members have remained resilient.
“We’ve had to remind ourselves that TCU Catholic is ultimately about the community and not a singular building,” said TCU Catholic president Virginia Rader, a senior psychology major. “This move has made us even more grateful for the space we do have and excited for what’s to come.”
Kubes Jewelers will be moving into the Grandmarc building.
"We'll only be moving three blocks over and staying on the same side of the street," said owner Brent Kubes. "I'm not sure when - probably sometime in the next two or three years."
With several relocations already underway, attention now turns to how the rest of the corridor will take shape.
While TCU owns the property necessary to fulfill its plans on the north side of West Berry Street, the southern side will rely on private development from local businesses to support the university’s vision for the street, according to the 2024 Master Plan.
Momentum toward that long-term plan is beginning to build with the ongoing construction of Morado on Berry.
“With Morado on Berry and future phases, we’re creating a connected, urban village that blends upscale student living with curated retail, thoughtful public spaces, and architecture that honors both the university and surrounding community,” said Endeavor principal Jake Newman in an April press release.
The Austin-based development firm Endeavor is making the initial capital investment for the West Berry Street project, followed by a long-term lease with the university, Soileau said.
These goals are backed by extensive research and planning to ensure the university’s expansion meets student needs and integrates smoothly with the surrounding community.
The 2024 Campus Master Plan was informed by a 2022 Campus Needs Analysis, which showed strong demand for market-based housing for upper-division students.
A campus survey with over 7,000 responses further shaped the plan, which also included parking and transportation analyses. Current construction on West Berry Street required traffic modeling and impact studies as part of the City of Fort Worth’s permitting process, Soileau said.
The ongoing construction on West Berry Street will change how students live, study, and engage with campus and the community.
With careful planning, research, and collaboration, TCU is setting the stage for a more vibrant and connected corridor for years to come, looking to fulfill the visions the university has outlined and meet student needs for a safer West Berry Street.
Built with Shorthand