The Texas State University Round Rock Campus and the surrounding area are designed to be a premier campus of higher education surrounded by authentic neighborhoods with roots in the enduring qualities of Round Rock, its small town ambience, its traditional downtown and its strong heritage. The Round Rock Campus Area Master Plan builds upon this foundation with traditional town making principles and a market-based focus to achieve an attractive, well-balanced place. The Master Plan combines an accessible campus with buildings and spaces for people; adjacent neighborhoods integrating traditional street-oriented mixed-use buildings and a variety of residential types that will accommodate a broad range of ages and incomes; as well as a network of interconnected tree-lined campus and neighborhood streets with a variety of public open spaces connected by walkways and trails to foster activity, personal interaction and strong "town and gown" bonds.

Donated by the Avery Family, the land for Texas State University will evolve into a "traditional campus" as characterized by TSU President Denise Trauth, and the campus will anchor "new urbanism" for Northeast Round Rock as underscored by Mayor Nyle Maxwell. The first building, designed by architects Graber, Simmons & Cowan, with design input by MilosavCekic of Gateway Planning, will be open 2005.