University of Houston – Downtown Gator Expansion

The University of Houston Downtown Gator Expansion is a multi-phase initiative that reshapes the One Main, Academic, and Girard Street Welcome Center Buildings to elevate learning, student life, and overall success. The first phase of an eight-phase project has been completed, and involves moving, the Testing Center from the third floor of the existing Girard Street Welcome Center and the Academic Support Center from the ninth floor of the One Main Street Building to the fifth floor of One Main. This move prepares the third floor of the Girard Street Welcome Center to be transformed in the next phase into a centralized resource hub for Career Services along with Health, Disability, and Counseling Services.

The second phase is currently under construction and will introduce a newly constructed floor above the current Girard Street Welcome Center to house financial aid, cashier, and student accounting services. The building will also gain large seminar rooms, technology-enhanced classrooms, and active learning environments supported by informal gathering areas. These communal spaces will serve as the heart of the building and encourage interaction and collaboration among students. A unique seating area will also be created at the connection point between the Girard Street Welcome Center, One Main, and Academic Buildings.

These first steps lay the groundwork for a campus experience that will continue to grow through each phase, strengthening academic resources, enriching student life, and enhancing the university’s presence in the heart of Houston.