COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
Tarrant County College serves the citizens of Tarrant County, Texas. The college has four major campuses in the cities of Hurst (Northeast Campus), Fort Worth (Northwest and South Campuses), and Arlington (Southeast Campus), with administrative offices in downtown Fort Worth at the May Owen Center. Construction is underway on Phase One of a downtown campus costing more than $300 million.
The Tarrant County Junior College District, created in 1965 by a vote of the citizens, levies property taxes. TCC's fall 2007 credit enrollment was 37,000. According to the District, its comprehensive educational offerings serve 81,000 people annually.
Based on current estimates, costs for the downtown campus will exceed $750 per square foot. This is four times the normal average for academic buildings according to the National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities.
We taxpayers need answers!
- How can Dallas County Community College District serve twice the number of students for half of the cost of what Tarrant County Community College District spends?*
- Why is it that Tarrant County College District collects $110,000,000 more in property taxes than the average county in the state?*
- Why does Tarrant County collect three times the taxes per full-time student than the state average?*
- Why do Tarrant County citizens pay higher taxes to its community college district than do residents in other area counties?*
*Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board: College Profile (January 2007)
Stop spending money on this downtown campus location. Spend our tax dollars on the needs of the District’s four campuses and build a downtown campus that is affordable! Click here for the names and contact info for the Tarrant County College Board of Trustees.
Source: Tarrant County College District-wide Facilities Master Plan
Campus Recommendations (Please read about the needs on every campus!)
| Webpage | printable pdf document |
| Northeast Campus Northwest Campus Southeast Campus South Campus |
Northeast Campus Northwest Campus Southeast Campus South Campus |
District-Wide Recommendations
Many of this plan’s recommendations pertain to all four TCCD campuses and will likely apply to any
future Tarrant County College District campuses. The recommendations presented in this chapter are District-wide in nature. Specific recommendations pertaining to individual campuses are included in each campus section.
Identity
A large monument sign should be developed on each campus that is visible and legible from the nearest freeway or major arterial route. Each sign should be similar and consistent in appearance. To strengthen the District’s image, the TCCD logo should be prominent on each sign. An entry sign should be developed for every campus entrance. This sign can be smaller in magnitude than the large monument sign, but still significant enough to announce to motorists and pedestrians that they are entering a TCCD campus. The “Main Entry” to each campus should be better defined with identity signage, landscaping, flags, banners, or other architectural elements. It is important to clearly designate the “front door” of each campus.
Each campus should take measures to emphasize its dominant features, maintain existing landscaping elements and create additional seating and gathering areas around these elements. The South Campus has distinguished itself with native plant materials. This is a good example of how each campus can define its character and image through proactive design. A dynamic new campus feature, such as a clock tower, bell tower, or major water element should be constructed on the campuses where one does not currently exist. Such features create memorable campus and District identities and become recognized icons.
The architectural character of each TCCD campus should be preserved. Each campus has a distinct architectural style. Design excellence and ingenuity applied to each new renovation or construction project will help conserve the existing architectural integrity of color palettes and materials and forms.
Wayfinding and Signage
A consistent, District-wide signage system should be developed that includes, but is not limited to directional and informational signs for entries, parking lots, buildings (interior and exterior), maintenance/delivery routes and points-of-interest. Parking lot signage should include lot designations at motorist eye-level. Building signage should identify major departments and frequently used community facilities.
A large campus map should be placed at the main entry of each campus. Kiosks should be placed between parking lots and major campus entry points. Kiosks should include a detailed campus map with points of interest, such as the Bookstore, Student Services, Food Services, Police, Information Desk and Administration. Campus maps within each building should be larger and more detailed.
The District needs to work with the TxDOT to ensure TCCD Campus Exit signs are properly placed on all freeways. Each campus should work with the local municipality to make sure directional signage is adequately placed on major arterial routes.
The Tarrant County College District has retained Freese and Nichols to prepare a Wayfinding and Signage Plan that will include specific recommendations to improve wayfinding on each campus and general design guidelines to achieve a consistent signage system for all District elements. The recommendations will appear as a separate report.
Transportation/Circulation
The scope of this Facilities Master Plan cannot fully address significant traffic issues at each TCCD campus. The planning team has recommended a more complete traffic study to address congestion and hazardous conditions near the entries to each campus. The plan recommends the following measures to minimize vehicle/pedestrian conflicts and increase traffic safety within each campus:
- Create 10- to 15-foot wide raised pedestrian pathways that are clearly marked and designated within the parking lots and at major crossing areas.
- Arrange the pathways and landscaping so as to encourage pedestrians to use the pathways and designated crosswalks.
- Place “Yield to Pedestrian” signs at all crosswalks.
- Create at least one covered drop-off area on each campus for handicap loading and unloading.
- Decrease the number and speed of service vehicles that are allowed on campus. All delivery and maintenance trucks should have approval and clearance from the Physical Plant. Only those trucks, service vehicles, and police cars that are essential to campus operations should be allowed within the campus core.
Parking
The number of visitor parking spaces should be increased on all campuses. Some faculty parking spaces can be made available to students in the evening. This will allow students to park closer to buildings at non-peak times. Signage and student/faculty orientation may be necessary to inform users of the hours when faculty spaces are available to students. As enrollment at each campus increases, the amount of parking for visitors, students and faculty should be increased proportionately. The different parking categories should be clearly designated and distinguished.
Twenty-minute parking spaces should be provided, where possible, near the Library, Bookstore, Registrar, faculty offices, etc.
Campus Buildings
A major goal of the proposed renovation and new construction projects is to improve the overall functionally of each campus. Part of this process is the careful consideration of adjacencies of similar functions and the way facilities and equipment are shared. Currently, many spaces are not being used in the manner or purpose for which they were originally designed. As buildings are renovated, the highest and best use of spaces within each facility should be re-evaluated.
Campus Layout and Landscaping
More covered or sheltered outdoor study/gathering areas are needed on each campus. Some existing open areas can be covered and additional, site specific outdoor covered areas near academic buildings should be considered. Several designated smoking areas should be constructed
on each campus. Smoking should be prohibited within a certain distance from buildings (10 to 20 feet) to prevent smokers from gathering at the entrances. Designated smoking areas should include a covered area such as a gazebo or shelter with benches, ash receptacles and other site amenities. These facilities should be attractive and comfortable to encourage smokers to use them.
Significant outdoor features, such as water fountains, and supporting elements, such as benches or tables, should be added, especially in shaded areas for students and faculty to study or congregate outdoors.
In some locations, aggregate concrete panels form plazas and walkways. These panels have experienced considerable vertical shift over the years and have become a tripping hazard. Maintenance and repair costs for these problems are very high. The panels should be replaced with uniform concrete or equivalent material.
Student Services
Student Union buildings need to be redefined on each campus for the current generation of students. The Student Union buildings should be located near the center of each campus and serve as the main gathering places for students. The Student Unions should be designed to encourage gathering and group interaction. They should also be technologically advanced with
computer connections and wireless capabilities. More indoor student gathering areas with computer connections and wireless capabilities should be created throughout each campus.
Student Services (Registrar, Bursar, Financial Aid, Counseling, Testing, Bookstore, Disability Services, Police, etc.) should be consolidated into a centralized ‘one-stop’ location. In many cases, students have to go to several different locations and, in some cases, several different buildings to register. This process should be simplified by consolidating all services into one facility and making all of these spaces more efficient.
Old, outdated furniture, fixtures, and equipment in classrooms should be replaced. Many desks are too small to accommodate larger students and the desktops are too small to accommodate a notebook or laptop. Desk size and antiquated equipment was a common complaint of students during the planning process.
Security
At each campus drive entry point, there should be gates that can be locked after hours or in the event of an emergency. Outdoor lighting should be improved on all campuses. Install brighter lighting in parking lots and within the campus core. Eliminate dark spots and overgrown vegetation that obscures lighting or hides would-be predators.
Emergency call boxes should be installed in strategic locations throughout each campus, especially in lots where a majority of students and faculty are parking at night.
Locks should be replaced with electronic key cards at secure areas in order to monitor “last access” if necessary. Such areas include computer labs, Counseling, Testing, Bursar, and the Bookstore. Other old, outdated exterior door locks that do not work properly should be replaced.
An intercom system or telephones should be placed in classrooms to contact police, health services and A/V media support. Outside lines are not recommended for classroom applications.
Physical Plant
All District Services should be consolidated into one location at the Northeast Campus District Physical Plant. Circulation and truck maneuvering areas around all physical plants and loading docks should be improved. Increased storage space and parking for service vehicles is badly needed at most campuses. Some campus physical plant areas are dysfunctional and have an inefficient layout. These areas need to be cleaned up and re-designed to be more efficient.
Life Safety/Accessibility
It is important to ensure that all exterior doors are equipped with proper exit hardware and that they do not allow individuals to be locked in. Upgrades are recommended for the emergency lighting system. Place “Emergency Exit” diagrams at all stairs and elevators and place “Tornado Shelter” signs at designated locations.
Restrooms, classrooms, and public facilities need to be upgraded to be ADA compliant. All walkways and paths of travel to facilities should be accessible. Ensure that there are ADA compliant ramps to all buildings, preferably at the main entries of each building. All older buildings should be brought up to ADA compliant standards.
Equipment
The campus clock systems are antiquated, unreliable and difficult to repair. The parts and equipment are no longer available. This system needs to be replaced. State-of-the-art audio/visual equipment is essential to modern didactic practice. Old and inadequate equipment should be installed in existing and future classrooms per the TCCD Design Guidelines. All classrooms should have an adequate level of soundproofing. Refer to the TCCD Design Guidelines for more specific detail.
Will all of these projects be accomplished? We don’t know, but hope so. Much will depend on enrollment trends and availability of resources…. When will these individual projects get under way? The same “it depends” factors apply.
**Does NOT include expenditures toward new campus.
Click here for a larger chart. 
Source: TCC’s biennial report Horizons: A report to our communities. 2005
