Texas Southern University Breaks Ground on First Phase of Campus Master Plan

Texas Southern University today broke ground on three new buildings: the Catalyst for Urban Transformation, the Health and Wellness Center, and the Nabrit Science Building.

The ceremony, held on the University’s campus, launched construction on the first phase of the University Master Plan 2025–2035, “Building the Next Century of Texas Southern,” a $1.7 billion, 10-year roadmap of facilities investments the University unveiled in July.

“Texas Southern is moving forward with a focus on investment in facilities and infrastructure that support university integrity and student success,” said President J.W. Crawford III. “The Master Plan aligns physical development with our institutional strategic priorities, providing a stable framework that can be expanded over time. I look forward to the ways these three buildings will elevate the educational journey and overall student experience. Today is a pivotal first step in the reimagining of Texas Southern University.”

The master plan guides the University’s long-term growth through modern academic facilities that support advanced and relevant teaching and learning, expanded student spaces, and enhanced campus connectivity. It represents targeted investments designed to facilitate consistent and progressive student success, research, innovation, and community impact.

The three projects now under construction were funded by the State of Texas in 2021 as Capital Construction Assistance Projects. Together, they represent a significant step toward the master plan’s vision of 20 projects over the next decade, spanning new academic, research, housing, athletics, and student life facilities as Texas Southern approaches its Centennial.

Nabrit Science Center

The Nabrit Science Center will be the foundation for expanding the research enterprise of Texas Southern University by providing advanced laboratory infrastructure to support fundamental, biomedical, and translational sciences. With state-of-the-art core facilities, advanced instrumentation, and collaborative research spaces, the Center will foster interdisciplinary discovery among students, faculty, and researchers. This investment strengthens Texas Southern University’s ability to attract research funding, develop the next generation of thinkers and scientists, and advance innovative solutions to address critical scientific and societal challenges.

Catalyst for Urban Transformation

The Catalyst for Urban Transformation represents the University’s commitment to creating an ecosystem where education, research, entrepreneurship, and community engagement intersect. Connected with the Nabrit Science Center, the Catalyst will expand opportunities for workforce development, graduate education, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, data science, and emerging technologies. Through resources such as the Nexus One-Stop-Shop, Graduate Student Welcome Center, Smith Center for Entrepreneurship, and innovation spaces, the Catalyst will empower students, faculty, and community partners to develop solutions to longstanding barriers to economic advancement, strengthen urban communities, and drive the trajectory of Texas Southern University toward very high research activity and excellence, and maximize student success.

Health and Wellness Center

The Health and Wellness Center will serve as a bridge between Texas Southern University and the Third Ward and broader Houston community by expanding access to health education, wellness resources, and preventive care initiatives. Through partnerships with local schools, community organizations, and the University’s health-related disciplines, students and faculty will collaborate to support the Greater Third Ward and Houston generally, as well as the Texas Southern campus community. The Center will provide experiential learning opportunities while empowering individuals and families to make informed decisions that improve health outcomes and overall quality of life. It is the University’s expectation that the Health and Wellness Center will be the command center 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. “Through expanded capacity in microgravity research, artificial intelligence, computational modeling, and advanced instrumentation that will take place in these new facilities, Texas Southern is building the research infrastructure needed to drive innovation, prepare the next generation of scientists and deliver discoveries that have global impact.”

For more information on Texas Southern’s Master Plan 2025–2035, visit https://tsu.edu/about/administration/facilities/master-plan.php.