UTRGV to convert former Harlingen retail center into $42.3M healthcare education hub 

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley secured final approval Thursday for a $42.3 million project that will convert a former retail center in Harlingen into a specialized healthcare education facility designed to train future physical and occupational therapy professionals.

The University of Texas System Board of Regents approved design development plans and funding for the project during its Thursday meeting, advancing a major academic investment aimed at expanding healthcare education capacity in the Rio Grande Valley.

The facility will be located at 2222 S. 77 Sunshine Strip in Harlingen and will transform an existing single-story commercial building into a 55,430-square-foot academic center serving UTRGV’s Departments of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy.

University officials said the facility is designed to support multidisciplinary healthcare education through advanced teaching, research and simulation environments.

“This significant investment from the UT System Board of Regents marks a pivotal milestone for healthcare education in the Rio Grande Valley,” UTRGV President Guy Bailey said in a statement. “By transforming this space into a world-class learning environment, UTRGV is expanding opportunities for our students while helping prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals who will serve the needs of our communities. This project reflects our continued commitment to student success, health education and the growth of Cameron County and the entire Rio Grande Valley.”

The $42.3 million investment will be funded primarily through $33.7 million in Permanent University Fund bond proceeds, along with $8.6 million through Revenue Financing System bond proceeds that will be repaid through local designated funds.

Plans call for a range of specialized academic and research spaces tailored to healthcare training.

The building will include wet and dry anatomy labs, musculoskeletal and neuro research facilities, motion capture and physiology research areas, and applied exercise laboratories.

Simulation-focused learning spaces will support pediatric and adult activities of daily living training, alongside assistive technology resources that include driving simulation capabilities.

The facility also will include shared therapy gyms, graduate student workrooms, classrooms, lounges and study areas designed to encourage collaboration between physical and occupational therapy students.

Faculty offices, conference rooms and departmental support areas are also included in the plans.

University officials said shared learning environments remain a central component of the design strategy, with spaces intended to strengthen integration between programs and create multidisciplinary learning opportunities.

Construction is expected to conclude in spring 2027.