HOUSTON, TX – Skanska, one of the world’s leading construction and development firms, recently achieved a significant construction milestone at Rice University with the topping out of the new $54.5 million building for Rice Business, home to the Jones Graduate School of Business and the Virani Undergraduate School of Business.
To celebrate this accomplishment, Skanska and Rice University held a ceremony on February 28, attended by over 100 people, including design partners and craft workers. During the event, teams signed the steel beam used to top out the structure before erecting and placing it as the final piece. The ceremony was followed by a lunch for Skanska crews and university representatives.
“We are energized by the momentum of our innovative new programs, the addition of new faculty and students and a fresh outlook on the future,” said Peter Rodriguez, dean of Rice Business. “Our commitment is to attract more talented and innovative students, faculty and staff to Rice, who will further improve our programs and research capabilities. This wonderful new facility is critical to fulfilling that commitment.”
Once complete, the new building for Rice Business will support the school’s growing student and faculty population with 112,000 square feet of state-of-the-art classrooms, modern office spaces, and amenities such as dining areas, open gathering spaces, and facilities for private events. The new building is designed to complement Janice and Robert McNair Hall—the current home of Rice Business—while presenting its own distinct aesthetic.
“This remarkable new building embodies the evolution of Rice Business over the past five decades and its commitment to equipping graduates who are not only integral to organizations around the globe but are also poised to lead them,” Rice President Reginald DesRoches said. “We’re committed to offering top-tier facilities that complement our top-ranked academic programs, attracting the best students, faculty and staff to our campus.”
“We are immensely proud to celebrate this milestone with Rice University and extend our heartfelt thanks to our trade partners for their dedication in helping achieve it,” said Dennis Yung, executive vice president and general manager for Skanska USA Building in Houston. “Once complete, this building will empower the next generation of leaders. Designed to accommodate the university’s growth and evolving needs, it stands as a source of pride for our Houston community. We are honored to help create a modern learning environment for Rice's students.”
Skanska is partnering with B. Bell Builders on the project, a local general contractor based in Sugar Land, Texas. Architecture Research Office (ARO) leads the building’s design, while Houston-based Kirksey Architecture serves as the project’s executive architect.
"We’re honored to stand alongside Skanska and Rice University at this topping out milestone,” said Nick Kothari, vice president with B Bell Builders. “This new business school will be a transformative space for students, equipping them with the tools to lead and innovate. B. Bell Builders is proud to help shape a facility that will inspire generations and strengthen Houston’s legacy as a hub of education and opportunity."
The new building for Rice Business is expected to reach completion in Spring of 2026.