Southern Methodist University Rees-Jones Library Project Tops Out — A Milestone for Research on the Hilltop

The new ReesJones Library of the American West at Southern Methodist University in Dallas is now officially topped out — marking a major structural milestone for the ~81,900-square-foot facility anticipated to open in early 2027.

With this week’s final elevated deck pour, the concrete skeleton of the building has reached its full height — a visible sign of momentum on campus and a testament to the craft, coordination and commitment of the entire project team.

This is United Forming, Inc.’s second major project at SMU’s Hilltop campus, following their earlier work here. The company’s crews leveraged their expertise in forming and concrete solutions to meet tight schedule demands and complex building geometry.

The library is being constructed to showcase and house the renowned ReesJones Collection — a gift of more than 30,000 rare books, maps, photographs and ephemera centered on the American West — alongside the university’s existing archival holdings. The facility will feature a grand reading room, digital humanities labs, exhibition spaces, a map gallery, and secure storage for special collections.

A special thanks goes to Hill & Wilkinson General Contractors for partnering on this critical structure and to the team members — Matt Driscoll, Redmond Wilkerson, Eric Kastor, Elijah Castillo, Humberto Chavez, Ivan and Fatima Juarez — for their outstanding leadership.

As the Hilltop campus prepares for the next phase of construction, United Forming stands ready to continue delivering excellence. Here’s to building what matters — and to what’s next.