Texas A&M Announces Varcity, Aggies’ First Retirement Village
Longevity-centric community allows former students, fans the opportunity to reside in environment promoting longer, healthier lives.
Texas A&M University has entered a public-private partnership with Varcity to build its first residential retirement community for former students and fans at the main campus in Bryan-College Station.
The Varcity brand standard calls for all developments to be directly on Power 4 university campuses through a public-private partnership. The partnership comes with an official affiliation with and licensing rights to the institution, supporting a truly integrated experience for those who move in.
“After spending years studying blue zones and how to live longer, healthier years, Varcity began in 2021 with the core conviction that people flourish in communities anchored by age diversity,” said Varcity founder and CEO Les Strech. “Over the last couple of decades, there have been dozens of university-based retirement communities built near college campuses and they have all been largely successful. It’s been a blast spending the last few years studying those and using our findings to launch the first retirement brand within the university space, and we couldn’t be more excited to launch here at Texas A&M.”
Varcity builds residential-over-retail, age 55 and over living spaces, amenities and services that maximize proximity and community. Varcity at Texas A&M will have a variety of living options from Villas to townhomes to concierge apartments. Residents receive unique IDs with access to a variety of educational opportunities, university facilities and activities to challenge and inspire them for years to come. Varcity at Texas A&M is spread out across 14 acres neighboring Century Square and within walking distance of the Memorial Student Center. Residents will have access to Texas A&M’s AggieSpirit Bus Service as well as access to university sports, arts and theatre events. Amenities at Varcity include a food truck court, co-working spaces, a lecture hall, pickleball courts, e-bike checkout, an artisan pastry house, a 3D printing space hosted by Texas A&M students and a tech desk for resident technology coaching.
The Varcity Standard lays out rigorous longevity, health care, academics and programming for its communities. Some components of this model include exclusive branding and affiliation rights with the university, experiential learning opportunities for hospitality, sports management and health students, and lifelong learning programs ideally housed inside. The development also includes classroom space for students, the option for residents to audit university classes, as well as work, mentoring and internship opportunities for college students and older adults.
“One of the more compelling features of Varcity communities is the commitment to focus on health span, not just lifespan,” continued Strech. “When moving in, each resident can take a longevity assessment that measures their chronological age against their biological age. That test is repeated annually to show that the thoughtful design of the Varcity physical environment, nutritional planning and the social structure are all increasing the number of quality years waiting ahead for residents. At Varcity, we believe as soon as you stop learning, you stop living. Our intergenerational learning approach with former students, friends of the university and current students engages minds at all ages to foster personal growth and development.”
Varcity at Texas A&M will be the second groundbreaking event of the Varcity portfolio following Varcity at Purdue in West Lafayette, Indiana. Varcity at Texas A&M began development in January 2025 with plans to break ground by the end of the year. The design of Varcity at Texas A&M is being co-led by Austin-based Reach Architects and Gensler’s San Antonio office. Houston-based Midway, led by 2024 Texas A&M Distinguished Alumnus Award winner Brad Freels, is consulting on the development.
“We wanted to provide our former students and fans with a compelling retirement destination to live, work, play and engage with the university in a more meaningful way,” said Clint Cooper, head of real estate for the Texas A&M University System. “This partnership with Varcity does just that.”
“Our partnership with Varcity and Texas A&M reflects our commitment to age-diverse living through innovative development and community integration,” said Cole Smith, chief development officer of Western States Lodging Management and Development. “WSLMD is excited to contribute to this groundbreaking project, that merges education, longevity and meaningful connection for residents.”
For more information about the Varcity concept and the company’s innovative ideas on longevity-centric living environments, visit varcity.com.
