Rice University marked a major milestone May 8 with the groundbreaking of the Moody Center Complex for Student Life (MCCSL), a bold step toward enhancing the student experience through connection, engagement and growth. Hundreds of students, staff, faculty and alumni joined together to celebrate a new 75,000-square-foot facility, made possible by generous gifts from the Moody Foundation and The Brown Foundation, which will anchor a newly envisioned student hub at the heart of campus.
“Today marks a new chapter in the history of Rice’s extraordinary student experience,” said Robert T. Ladd, chairman of the Rice Board of Trustees. “The Moody Center Complex for Student Life is poised to become the cornerstone of student activity on campus, doubling the footprint of Rice’s student center spaces in support of our Owls’ academic, personal and professional journeys.”
Located on the south side of the Central Quadrangle, the new facility will complement the Rice Memorial Center (RMC) and Ley Student Center, which will undergo renovations after the completion of the new building, creating a cohesive complex for undergraduate and graduate students called the Moody Center Complex for Student Life. Rice students will have the opportunity to provide input on the redesign of the existing student center, ensuring their voices are integral to shaping their campus experience.
“More and more students are seeking an environment where they can challenge themselves to excel, be supported by a caring community of mentors and prepare themselves to be creative and critical thinkers who will address the problems of tomorrow,” Rice President Reginald DesRoches said. “Our ultimate goal is to prepare students to make a difference in their communities, and this facility is dedicated to supporting this journey from the moment they step foot on campus to the time they exit the Sallyport and even well beyond. When we put more Rice graduates into the world, we all reap the benefits, and this complex will help us do that by enhancing access to all that Rice has to offer.”
The new facility will feature The Brown Foundation Pavilion that opens to the Central Quad, offering opportunities for both indoor and outdoor events, including performances, lectures and multicultural celebrations. The building will also house a variety of spaces, such as a café, coffeehouse, meeting rooms, study areas and student services offices, designed to meet the needs of Rice’s diverse and growing student body.
“Super excited,” said student Taylor Schultz, Duncan College president. “I think that it's going to completely change the culture for future students by just building more community.”
Five years ago, Rice had about 4,000 undergraduate students and set a goal to increase that number to 4,800. Now, the university plans to expand further, aiming for approximately 5,200 undergraduates by 2028 — a 30% increase since 2020. The graduate student population will also grow along with an increase in faculty. By the end of this growth period, Rice anticipates a total enrollment of around 9,500 students.
“They've been talking about building this new student center since we matriculated, and it's awesome to see they're finally making good on their word,” said student Nathan Calzat, Martel College president.
The project is supported by the historic $100 million commitment from the Moody Foundation, announced in 2021, which remains the largest single donation in Rice’s history. The gift not only supports the construction of the MCCSL but also funds 12 endowments focused on advancing student opportunity and success — collectively called The Moody Experience. Since 1964, the foundation has contributed over $125 million to Rice.
Elle Moody, alumna and board member at both Rice and the Moody Foundation, reflected on the deeper meaning of the new facility and the message it sends to the student community.
“To all our students, I want to share my hope that this facility will give you every opportunity to form meaningful connections, not only with one another but with a vast network of scholars and leaders across the U.S. and world,” she said. “I hope that this will be a place for you to feel the sense of belonging that is core to the Rice experience.”
The Brown Foundation, which has given $112 million to Rice throughout its rich history, provided an additional $15 million to support the project. The foundation’s namesake, George R. Brown began serving on Rice’s Board of Trustees in 1943 and as chairman from 1950-1965, the first alumnus to receive this honor. Known for his personal interest in students, he often met with them directly.
“As a Rice trustee, George R. Brown cared deeply about excellent teaching and the undergraduate student experience at Rice. It is especially fitting, then, that we are here to celebrate a new center for student life at Rice,” said Isabel Lummis, president of The Brown Foundation. “We applaud Rice’s future vision to place even greater emphasis on learning beyond the classroom through engagement with the community and the world ‘beyond the hedges.’”
Award-winning architecture firm Olson Kundig designed the center, with Page serving as executive architect. Several members of the design team are Rice alumni. The new building is expected to be completed in fall 2027.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Rice Student Association president Trevor Tobey highlighted the university’s commitment to student life, linking it to DesRoches’ vision and the broader goals of Momentous, the university’s strategic plan.
“Today we celebrate a new milestone of that vision, a new center complex dedicated to student success,” Tobey said. “As president of the Student Association, I'm proud to stand behind that vision, and I'm so excited to see it coming to fruition.”
