Rice University celebrated the topping out of Susan and Fayez Sarofim Hall, a new visual arts building, Nov. 12. Key attendees, including School of Humanities Dean Kathleen Canning, Department of Art Chair John Sparagana and architect Charles Renfro, a Rice alumnus and partner at Diller Scofidio + Renfro, joined faculty and staff as well as employees of general contractor Austin Commercial to mark the milestone by signing the final beam before it was lifted into place.
“The topping out ceremony for Sarofim Hall is a powerful reminder that we are one step closer to providing the arts at Rice with a dedicated, innovative home,” Canning said. “This space will be a place where creativity, collaboration and exploration can flourish, marking a true homecoming for the visual arts on our campus and in our community.”
Sarofim Hall, an 83,000-square-foot facility designed by Renfro and his DS+R team, will serve as a hub for interdisciplinary artistic collaboration and innovation. The design reimagines the former site of Rice’s historic Media Center and Art Barn, paying homage to these past facilities while introducing an updated “extroverted minicampus.”
Featuring a state-of-the-art cinema, adaptable performance lab, classrooms and workshops, the building aims to foster a vibrant, research-driven creative ecosystem on campus. Its open design includes two intersecting glass walls that create protected outdoor spaces and invite natural light throughout the building, merging performance and visual arts in a unique architectural layout.
As part of the topping out tradition, a fir tree symbolizing growth and resilience was affixed to the beam, honoring construction milestones and ancient customs. Sarofim Hall’s completion, expected in fall 2025, will help anchor Rice’s southwestern arts district, enriching the campus and the broader Houston community.
Learn more about Sarofim Hall here.