The University of Houston System (“UHS”) plans to start construction on the first building that will house University of Houston at Katy and University of Houston-Victoria at Katy, in August 2017. The inaugural building will be an 80,000 square foot facility located at the northeast corner of I-10 and the Grand Parkway. The new state-of-the-art academic building will be the start of a 46-acre educational district that will grow to better serve the fast-growing West Houston area.
“The new location in the West Houston Association service area, which has a population of over 1.7 million people, will allow thousands of area residents opportunity to earn bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees close to home,” says Dick Phillips, UH associate provost for outreach and community engagement and WHA Board Member.
When UH-Katy opens in fall of 2019, two UHS universities, University of Houston and the University of Houston-Victoria, will offer a complimentary range of academic programs, including engineering, nursing, and business. UH and UH-Victoria are partnering with HCC and other regional community colleges to provide lower-level course work, resulting in a more affordable pathway to a bachelor’s degree or higher.
UHS purchased the new 46-acre tract from Parkside Capital. The property sits inside a 125-acre development. The UHS land purchase and building project is funded by $46.8 million in Capital Construction Bonds (previously known as Tuition Revenue Bonds, or TRBs), approved by the Texas Legislature in 2015.
UHS and Parkside Capital rebranded the development as University Center in early 2017. University Center is a master-planned, deed restricted, mixed-use destination that will host the colleges, flex-office, multi-family, restaurants, and retail. Fifteen acres will be a Katy Asia Town development, which includes an HMart and other shops that will cater to the area’s large Asian population. Property owners have also created a new management district to ensure that the area is well maintained and managed.
“We’re very excited by how well and how quickly this came together,” said Dan T. Moody, Executive Vice President at Parkside Capital. “This location has a lot of advantages in terms of mobility and access. With a Metro Park and Ride located within the area and mobility improvements in terms of streets, lighting, and sidewalks, this will be a great place to get around. With the types of uses that the development has attracted, this will be fun place to live, work, and learn.”
“We look forward to expanding our partnership with WHA and other regional organizations and community leaders as we grow our presence and provide educational opportunities in Katy” said Dr. Paula Myrick Short, senior vice chancellor/senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, UH System/UH.