HCU to Build New State of the Art Engineering, Science and Nursing Building

A new building is on the horizon at Houston Christian University (HCU) thanks to a $20 million lead gift from Sherry and Jim Smith, Sr., the largest single gift in HCU's history. The Smith Engineering, Science and Nursing Building will be an iconic multidisciplinary facility that will continue to grow and promote Houston Christian University's dedication to excellence.Named in the Smiths' honor, the multi-million-dollar structure will provide state-of-the-art technology, learning spaces and labs to equip students with the skills to compete in the high-demand engineering, science and nursing fields.

HCU President Robert Sloan expressed appreciation to the Smiths and called their gift "consistent with their family's long history of generosity, beginning with Jim's father, Orrien Smith," one of the Founding Fathers of the private faith-based institution.

"Jim and Sherry have, for decades, worked tirelessly on behalf of the University, and have used their gifts, as well as their wisdom, to further the Christian mission of HCU. This gift will produce spectacular results in the important STEM-related areas of engineering, science, and nursing, not only for HCU, but also for Houston and well beyond. We will forever be indebted to this great family," said Dr. Sloan.

The $60 million-dollar, 71,000-square-foot, three-story building will be built on the east side of the HCU campus adjacent to Morris House with a direct view to the Morris Family Center for Law & Liberty, celebrating the University's dedication to the past and to the future.

The project team, comprised of Houston-based Churchworx, known for numerous faith-based and commercial projects and the award-winning Kirksey Architecture design team, will break ground on the building in Spring 2025.

Dr. Sloan commended the HCU Board of Trustees for approval of $60 million dollars in funding on May 21, 2024, paving the way to make the new building a reality.

"The HCU Board of Trustees approval of the financing plan for the new Sherry and Jim Smith Engineering, Science and Nursing Building marks a day of historic significance for the University." said Dr. Sloan.

"These new academic facilities, including laboratories, classrooms, and offices, have long been the greatest facility need for HCU and will complement our well known and established excellence in these areas. The Board's action is both careful and visionary and represents a great and important day for Houston Christian University."

Dr. Sloan also expressed thanks to key alumni, friends and foundations, including Dr. Archie Dunham, Esther Wong, The Cullen Trust for Higher Education, Bruce Williams and Linda Davis, The Hamill Foundation, Tadd and Jennifer Tellepsen, The Brown Foundation, The Fondren Foundation, M.D. Anderson Foundation, Memorial Hermann Foundation, Dr. Dan and Cindy Wilford and The Elkins Foundation, for their significant contributions to the University's most successful capital campaign.

The Smith Engineering, Science and Nursing Building will enable the University to advance Imperative One of its Institutional Strategic Plan 2030 by providing new instructional space for students pursuing undergraduate and graduate-level degrees in high-demand STEM-related disciplines and will work in tandem with the University's goal to grow HCU's student population to 10,000 by 2030.

"To provide our students with critical learning experiences that will carry them into their future careers, it is important that our physical spaces match the high quality of our faculty and curricula. The new building will not only provide excellent lab spaces for experimentation, but also the additional space creates the opportunity for HCU to transform existing spaces into active learning classrooms that will support high impact teaching and learning practices," said Dr. Katie Evans, Dean of the College of Science & Engineering.

Dr. Carol Lavender, Dean of The Linda Dunham School of Nursing appreciates the many donors who made the building possible and looks forward to the positive impact the new facility will have in preparing the next generation of nursing professionals.

The building is slated for completion in Fall 2026 with plans for a comprehensive parking solution to be announced before the start of construction in the spring semester. For more information visit HC.edu/ESN.

Caption: Renderings of Smith Engineering, Science and Nursing Building

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About Houston Christian University

For more than 60 years, Houston Christian University has equipped students to lead, collaborate, and embody a deep sense of spiritual purpose. The University offers a wide range of majors, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs, as well as NCAA Division I athletics in the Southland Conference. Located in the heart of one of the nation's largest metropolitan centers, HCU's culture of excellence molds the next generation of educated disciples to be pillars in their communities, preparing them to think critically and biblically as they impact the world.