Rice University will break ground on the Moody Center Complex for Student Life at 3 p.m. May 8, marking a transformative moment for the university’s commitment to student engagement, development and success.
Made possible by generous gifts from the Moody Foundation and the Brown Foundation, the 75,000-square-foot facility will be constructed to serve as a dynamic hub for student activities, supporting connection and interaction among Rice students and the broader community.
To be located on the south side of the Central Quadrangle, the new facility will complement the Rice Memorial Center and Ley Student Center, which will undergo renovations after the completion of the new building, creating a cohesive student center complex called the Moody Center Complex for Student Life.
What: Groundbreaking ceremony for Moody Center Complex for Student Life
Who: Rice President Reginald DesRoches; Robert T. Ladd, chairman of the Rice Board of Trustees; Elle Moody, trustee of both the Moody Foundation and Rice; Isabel Lummis, president of the Brown Foundation; Bridget Gorman, dean of undergraduates; Seiichi Matsuda, dean of graduate and postdoctoral studies; Trevor Tobey, president of the Rice Student Association; and other university and foundation leaders.
When: Thursday, May 8, 3 p.m.
Where: Central Quad, Rice University, 6100 Main St. 77005
The new facility will support the growing student population at Rice. 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, currently at 4,100, is also expected to grow significantly along with an increase in faculty. By the end of this growth period, Rice anticipates a total enrollment of around 9,500 students.
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 new complex but also funds 12 endowments focused on advancing student opportunity and success collectively called The Moody Experience . The Brown Foundation provided an additional $15 million to support the project.
Designed by award-winning architecture firm Olson Kundig with Page as the executive architect, the new building is scheduled for completion in fall 2027.