Sited near the low-lying Buffalo Bayou in Houston and featuring complex landscaping and extensive concrete work, the first Ismaili Center in the U.S. has required an intense commitment to precision from its owner and design and construction team. Building the LEED Gold-targeted campus for the branch of Shia Islam began in 2021 and is set to finish in 2025.
On an 11-acre site, the 72-ft-high cultural and religious center comprises a 150,000-sq-ft, five-story tripartite building that features elevated open terraces and numerous gardens and courtyards. Inside are an atrium, a prayer space known as a “jamatkhana,” a library, social and exhibit halls, black box theater, classrooms, administrative offices and facilities for catered events. The complex also incorporates a 600-car two-level underground garage.