The Houston Texans, Harris County and Howard Hughes have announced plans to build a sports and entertainment destination in Bridgeland that will include the team’s new headquarters and training complex — dubbed the Toro District. The 83-acre project is projected to generate $34 billion in long-term economic impact and create more than 17,000 jobs, according to a release from the Texans, representing one of the largest mixed-use developments tied to professional sports in the region’s history.
A Rice University architecture expert is available to provide context on what this type of large-scale, public-private development means for Houston’s urban growth, real estate markets and long-term planning strategy.
Troy Schaum
Schaum is an associate professor at Rice’s School of Architecture, an architect and a researcher whose work focuses on commercial and institutional real estate development and how buildings function as drivers of urban transformation at the city scale. He is the principal of the award-winning firm Schaum Architects, with offices in Houston.
His practice engages globally sited, large-scale and complex projects that intersect architecture, economics and urban planning. His professional experience includes commercial, cultural and mixed-use projects, master planning and high-profile developments, as well as prior work at OMA New York, Studio Daniel Libeskind and other internationally recognized firms.
Schaum can speak to:
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The urban and economic implications of the Texans’ Toro District project
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How sports-anchored developments catalyze growth in emerging suburban corridors
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Commercial real estate development and large-scale projects in Houston
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The relationship between architecture, capital investment and long-term urban expansion
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Mixed-use, institutional and entertainment district trends nationwide
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How major developments shape new town centers and regional infrastructure
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Houston’s role in national and global development patterns
To schedule an interview, please contact media relations specialist Andrew Bell at ab208@rice.edu.