University of Houston unveils campus renovation plans coinciding with centennial

The University of Houston is dressing up for its 100^th birthday party by beautifying and reconfiguring parts of its campus.

A revamped entrance along University Drive and a multi-purpose gathering space called Centennial Plaza are the key components of a $35 million landscaping project that aims to transform the South Houston university ahead of its centennial celebration in 2027. UH announced Tuesday that the planned changes will be executed by Houston-based firm OJB, which has begun design work and is expected to start construction next summer.

"Our goal is to create a more walkable and collaborative campus by connecting people, places and disciplines across the university, David Oliver, UH's senior vice president for facilities and construction management, said in a news release.

According to conceptual renderings provided by the university, an existing building will be razed as part of the construction of Centennial Plaza, which will be located in the campus' original quadrangle. The plan calls for adding shade trees and outdoor seating areas that can be used for university ceremonies, sports-related events and other gatherings.

University Drive, which serves as the main entrance to the campus, will be lined with public art installations, dining spaces and trees to create a shaded central pathway to Cullen Performance Hall. A new gateway monument will be added at Spur 5 and at several other entrances to the campus, according to UH.

Landscaping improvements also are planned for Lynn Eusan Park, Cougar Woods, Butler Plaza and the campus woodland from Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design to the Science and Research 1 building.

The upcoming changes stem from a centennial master plan committee convened by university president Renu Khator in 2020, with the idea of making the UH campus more environmentally sustainable and attractive to prospective students and visitors. The school aims to become a top 50 university in the United States.

"The University of Houston is a crucial pat of the fourth-largest city in the country, and having a welcoming campus that everyone can be proud of is paramount," Khator said. "This reimagination will create a sense of place, community and learning, while also promoting health and well-being not only for our students, but for all Houstonians."

OJB is an award-winning landscape and urban design firm that also has completed campus projects at Baylor, Rice, Texas Tech, Harvard and Stanford, among others. It also designed Aggie Park at Texas A&M and Klyde Warren Park in Dallas.

The work at UH is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, according to the university.