HOUSTON – Texas Southern University has broken ground on three new buildings as it begins the first phase of a 10-year, $1.7 billion plan to transform its campus.
The university held a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for the Catalyst for Urban Transformation, Health and Wellness Center and Nabrit Science Center.
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The projects are part of Texas Southern’s 2025-2035 University Master Plan, “Building the Next Century of Texas Southern.” The university unveiled the master plan in July, outlining 20 projects planned over the next decade as the school approaches its centennial.
“Texas Southern is moving forward with a focus on investment in facilities and infrastructure that support university integrity and student success,” President J.W. Crawford III said.
The three buildings now under construction were funded by the state of Texas in 2021 through Capital Construction Assistance Projects.
Nabrit Science Center
The Nabrit Science Center will provide new laboratory and research space for fundamental, biomedical and translational sciences.
The facility will include advanced instrumentation, core research facilities and collaborative spaces designed to bring students, faculty and researchers together.
University officials say the investment will help expand Texas Southern’s research capabilities, attract research funding and prepare students for careers in science and technology.
Catalyst for Urban Transformation
The Catalyst for Urban Transformation will bring together education, research, entrepreneurship and community engagement.
The building will support programs involving workforce development, graduate education, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, data science and other emerging technologies.
Planned resources include the Nexus One-Stop-Shop, Graduate Student Welcome Center, Smith Center for Entrepreneurship and innovation spaces.
The university says the facility will also create opportunities for students, faculty and community partners to develop solutions to challenges facing urban communities.
Health and Wellness Center
The Health and Wellness Center is expected to connect Texas Southern with the Third Ward and broader Houston community through health education, wellness resources and preventive care initiatives.
Students and faculty will work with local schools, community organizations and the university’s health-related programs on initiatives designed to improve health outcomes.
The university also expects the center to serve as a hub for partnerships with the city of Houston.
“Research at Texas Southern is expanding from our neighborhoods to new frontiers, including collaborations with NASA Johnson Space Center scientists and astronauts and successful experiments conducted in space,” said Dr. Michelle John, vice president of research and innovation.
John said the new facilities will expand the university’s capabilities in areas including microgravity research, artificial intelligence, computational modeling and advanced instrumentation.
The university’s master plan calls for additional academic, research, housing, athletics and student life projects over the next decade.
Construction on the Health and Wellness Center is expected to be completed in December 2027.
