Texas A&M Breaks Ground on New State-of-the-Art Small Animal Teaching Hospital

Facility will expand access to advanced care, enhance veterinary education, and support research innovations.

The future of veterinary medicine in Texas took a bold step forward on June 6 as the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) officially broke ground on the Linda & Dennis Clark ’68 Small Animal Teaching Hospital—a transformational facility designed to support the next generation of veterinary leaders.

In a celebratory ceremony attended by donors, dignitaries, faculty, and leadership from across The Texas A&M University System, the groundbreaking marked a significant milestone for a college with more than a century of veterinary excellence.

“This is not just another building,” said Bob Albritton, chairman of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. “It’s a statement of confidence in what’s already the best veterinary program in the nation and a bold step forward for its future.”

Slated to open in August 2027, the new 135,000-square-foot facility will double the number of surgical suites and exam rooms and expand critical areas like Emergency Services and the ICU—two of the hospital’s busiest departments. It will also feature modern clinical and teaching spaces designed to keep pace with the rapidly evolving world of veterinary medicine, including telemedicine capabilities, expanded clinical trials, and specialty services.

“This new facility will allow our students and faculty to serve even more Texas families—and their four-legged loved ones—with the very best care in the world,” said Chancellor John Sharp of The Texas A&M University System.

Strategically located at the corner of Agronomy Road and Raymond Stotzer Parkway, the new hospital will sit just 500 feet from the current Small Animal Teaching Hospital (SATH), which was originally built to accommodate 6,000 cases per year. Today, that number has surged to 21,000 cases annually, underscoring the need for a larger, more advanced facility.

“The Clark Small Animal Teaching Hospital will enhance Texas A&M’s capacity to train future veterinarians, addressing the growing demand for veterinary service in the state,” said Glenn Hegar, Texas comptroller and incoming chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. “It will serve as a hub for advanced research and innovation in veterinary medicine, contributing to improved animal and public health outcomes.”

The project was made possible by a $20 million lead gift from Texas A&M alumni Linda and Dennis Clark, announced in March 2023. Their support catalyzed a larger campaign that has raised over $10 million during its quiet phase, alongside significant investment from the Texas Legislature and Texas A&M University.

“This is a great honor for Linda and me,” said Dennis Clark ’68 ’71. “We’re thrilled to be part of something that will advance care, research, and education in veterinary medicine for decades to come.”

The $181 million facility is being designed by Page Southerland Page in partnership with Foil Wyatt Architects, with construction preparation already underway following the demolition of Veterinary Medical Sciences Building 507.

“The Clark Hospital will provide an extraordinary one-of-a-kind environment for learning, discovery, care, and compassion,” said Dr. John R. August, Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M. “It truly will be a force for good.”

For over a century, VMBS has trained more than 9,230 Aggie veterinarians, and the new Clark Hospital ensures future graduates will continue to learn in a setting that reflects the latest advancements in veterinary science. Fourth-year DVM students complete their clinical year within the Small and Large Animal Teaching Hospitals, gaining hands-on experience under faculty mentorship.

As construction begins, so does a new era for veterinary medicine in Texas—one rooted in tradition, driven by innovation, and committed to compassionate care.

To learn more about the Linda & Dennis Clark ’68 Small Animal Teaching Hospital, visit: tx.ag/ClarkHospital.