By Alexandra Skores, The Dallas Morning News (via TNS).
Deloitte University, the consulting firm’s showplace training center and hotel in Westlake, Texas, could soon undergo a $100 million expansion.
Tarrant County commissioners next week will consider a new tax abatement proposal for an addition to the more than 700,000-square-foot facility.
Deloitte LLP, which provides audit, tax and risk advisory services to corporations and government agencies, opened the $300 million campus located northwest of DFW International Airport on Hillwood’s Circle T Ranch in 2011. It was one of North Texas’ largest private commercial projects of the time.
The company has since purchased about 118 acres adjacent to the campus, giving it 225 acres to work with, according to Community Impact. The expansion plan calls for eight new structures to be built on the campus, including a 20,000-square-foot ballroom, an 800-room hotel and a 176-seat amphitheater.
Deloitte wants to start construction next year, with an estimated completion date in 2026.
Heidi Soltis-Berner, Deloitte University managing director, told county commissioners last month that the training center brings 65,000 to 75,000 people a year to Westlake, including business leaders from many of the nation’s largest companies. Team-based learning and business simulations are conducted mostly by Deloitte staff for the company’s customers.
“We impact our people, our clients and our communities,” Soltis Berner told commissioners. “Here we are, almost 11 years later, and the success of Deloitte University has surpassed what we even expected.”
Deloitte’s expansion plan includes a 2030 sustainability plan of achieving net-zero emissions. It also projects 25 new jobs with an average salary of $90,000.
Deloitte has an active 10-year tax abatement with Tarrant County that’s set to expire this year. That deal has saved the company over $1 million since December 2021, according to county records. The abatement being considered next week is for the expansion.
Spokesman Jonathan Gandal said the expansion furthers the company’s “long-term investment in learning and leadership development.”
“We appreciate Tarrant County’s consideration of the economic benefits of the considerable expenses we will be incurring to sustainably expand this state-of-the-art facility,” he said.
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©2022 The Dallas Morning News. Visit dallasnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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