Rice Building $54.5M Business School Facility

Rice University broke ground on a new 112,000-square-foot building for the Jones Graduate School of Business, which the school says is needed to accommodate the growth of both students and faculty. The $54.5 million building is designed for the next generation of business leaders and features classrooms, offices, open gathering spaces, dining areas, and facilities for private events.

Together with the existing 160,000-square-foot McNair Hall, the building will form a new academic complex. The new building will be built around the existing one, creating additional public spaces between them. Houston-based firm Kirksey is the Architect of Record. ARO calibrated the design of the new building’s façade and interiors. The project is expected to be completed in spring 2026.

Two 120-seat and two 65-person classrooms will provide a range of spaces to support increased enrollment, while breakout rooms throughout will facilitate Rice Business’s team-based approach to learning.