Something Exciting is Starting Here.
Austin Community College District is reshaping higher education and revitalizing a community by transforming the former Highland Mall into a state-of-the art learning and training complex. ACC Highland serves as an anchor to a mixed-use community that includes parks and trails, apartments, office space, restaurants, and shops.
At the heart of Austin’s newest community is a commitment to provide access to a world-class education. The ACC Highland project is made possible through community and industry partnerships and by ACC District voters.
Phase 2
ACC Highland Phase 2
Jacob Fontaine Plaza Park Lighting
Fontaine Plaza Lighting Celebration
Watch as ACC turns the lights on at Highland’s newest park.
St. John Encampment Commons
St. John Encampment Commons Grand Opening
Yes, We Bought a Mall
Highland Mall opened in 1971 as Austin’s largest regional shopping center and the city’s first indoor mall. Once a flourishing enterprise, the mall lost favor with customers
and struggled to remain a viable venture. In 2010, ACC formed a partnership with RedLeaf Properties and began purchasing sections of the mall complex — 1.3 million
square feet of indoor space on 81 acres. The college purchased the last portion of the mall infrastructure in late 2012 and began redeveloping the mall structure into a state-of-the-art college campus and its surrounding property into a vibrant, mixed-use community.
The Big Picture: From Bunker to Brilliance
Located 4 miles from Downtown Austin, Highland ATX is at the heart of Austin’s transportation and transit network. Hundreds of apartments help meet Austin’s growing residential demand, offices create new central-city job opportunities, and stores and restaurants serve both Highland and the surrounding neighborhoods. Highland is at the heart of Austin’s transportation and transit network served by the Capital MetroRail with direct access to IH-35, US-290, and US-183.
- 81 acres
- 3 new parks
- 1.25 miles of trails
- 20,000 students
- 6,800 employees
- 1,800 residents
- 1.3M square feet
- 800,000 square feet office space
- 150,000 square feet retail space
- 1,200 residential units with affordable housing options
- 200 hotel rooms
Purchase & Development Timeline
2010 • Dillard’s Building + 18 acres purchased
2011 • Macy’s + JC Penney’s buildings purchased
2012 • Highland Mall Ground Lease + Remaining 80 areas purchased
2014 • ACC Highland Campus (Phase 1) opened
2014 • ACC voters approved bonds including $152.8M for ACC Highland Phase 2
2015 • Highland Mall closed
2017 • ACC Highland, Building 4000 opened
2019 • ACC + KLRU partnership announced
2020 • Jacob Fontaine Plaza opened
2021 • ACC Highland Phase 2 + Corporate/Academic building + Parking Garage open