While classes at the University of Texas at Arlington campus have already begun, renovations to the downtown Santa Fe Freight Building – which hundreds of UTA students will occupy for classes in January – are in full force.

A 10-year sublease between UT Arlington and the Fort Worth Tax Increment Finance District #3 was approved this month, and the school has wasted no time in starting interior renovations. By the 2007 spring semester, the UT Arlington Fort Worth Center will occupy 21,000 square feet in the historic 1401 Jones St. building, and will house graduate and continuing education courses. The 68-year-old building, which is a total of 30,000 square feet, will also house existing tenants, including RPM Commercial.

During a Downtown Fort Worth Inc. luncheon on August 21, UTA President James Spaniolo said UTA’s expansion affirms the university’s commitment to Fort Worth, where it has an 18-acre Riverbend Park campus at 7300 Jack Newell Blvd. South in north Fort Worth.

“In true Maverick fashion, we’re expanding to the west. The potential for growth is great … with all that’s here in Fort Worth there’s absolutely no question that we should be here,” Spaniolo said.

Approximately 15,000 square feet of the first floor will be remodeled into classroom space, a library and a student breakroom. Faculty and administrative offices will occupy the second floor of the building, which most recently was a part of the Fort Worth Rail Market – a mix of shops, restaurants and a farmer’s market – but closed in 2005.

Raymond O’Connor is the architect for the project and Scott Dennett Construction LLC is in charge of the renovations. Both companies were involved in the restoration of the Flatiron building, located at 1000 Houston St. downtown, according to www.fortwortharchitecture.com.