Rice University officials unveiled plans Nov. 6 to transform the west side of the campus to create what they are calling the "Gateway Project," which includes creating a pedestrian-friendly corridor that will link the campus to the center of the Rice Village Shopping Center. The plans also include renovating the 75-year-old Rice Stadium.

The specifics

According to a news release, the new pedestrian-oriented street will extend Amherst Avenue two blocks east from Morningside Drive, through Chaucer Drive, to a new campus entrance near Entrance 13A on Greenbriar Drive.

The corridor is intended to serve as a "vital connection" between Rice Village and the university campus by activating underused outdoor spaces and creating a walkable pathway lined with trees, lighting and green spaces.

“Rice Village has long been a beloved destination and part of the Rice community,” Rice President Reginald DesRoches said in the release. “By connecting our campus directly to the Village, we are strengthening our ties to Houston while enriching the student experience, advancing our growth and reinforcing Rice’s commitment to innovation and community.”University officials said they hope the new project will attract a mix of uses, including new retail, multifamily housing, restaurants and a potential grocery store. A public green space is also planned adjacent to the mixed-use space to host community events and performances. The new street will also feature major infrastructure upgrades, including new drainage, sewer and water lines.

Something to note

Ken Jett, president of the Rice Real Estate Company, which owns roughly 260,000 square feet of building area in Rice Village, said that funding and costs associated with the portion of the project that extends into the Village are still being determined. However, the project will include the demolition of a vacant building on the future lot, as well as a few vacant houses that lie between the future site of the Amherst Street extension.

According to Google Maps, the building that will be demolished is located at 5650 Greenbriar Drive, which used to serve as an office for the Development and Alumni Relations departments. Jett said the company owns all of the property set for demolition and/or redevelopment. However, he said the company is in communication with property owners within Rice Village.

“We’ve worked closely with our neighborhood partners to thoughtfully plan the timing and traffic flow, ensuring the impact is minimal and largely confined to Rice-owned property," he said.

While most of the details for the Rice Village side of the Gateway Project are still under consideration, such as funding, cost, parking and timeline, Jett said he hopes to break ground on the project sometime in 2026 close to the fourth quarter. However, demolition of the Greenbriar Annex Building started Nov. 7.

More detailsThe Gateway Project will also include a complete renovation of Rice Stadium, a venue that is 75 years old and last saw significant renovations in 2016.

The $33 million process included opening the Brian Patterson Sports Performance Center, according to the Rice University Athletics department. A modernization project also took place in 2022-25 that included a new scoreboard, resurfaced brick walls and renovations to the restrooms.

Now, the university is set to completely renovate the stadium, a project that includes demolishing the existing press box, upper bowl and upper concourse to make way for a new three-level west concourse building. According to the release, the first level will introduce premium club seating that extends in the lower bowl with chairback seats, loge boxes and living-room style box seating. This level would be able to be used as a flexible conference and banquet space that can accommodate more than 600 seated guests or 1,000 game day guests.

The second level will house 14 private suites, while the third level will include new spaces for media, broadcast, game operations and coach's booths, as well as dedicated suites for the university and athletics department.Tommy McClelland, vice president of athletics, said the renovation signals a "new era" for Rice athletics.

“The enhanced Rice Stadium will offer a best-in-class experience for our student-athletes, fans and alumni while positioning Rice to compete at the highest levels athletically and academically," he said. "It will be a place of pride for the university and for Houston.”

Other key stadium improvements will include:

• Removing two-thirds of the upper deck
• A 360-degree concourse
• Two 4,000-square-foot restrooms and concession buildings to the southwest and northwest corners
• A new kitchen and commissary
• A landscaped walkway on the southwest entry plaza leading to Rice Village

The project also includes getting rid of the outdoor practice stadium known as "the Bubble." University officials said a new covered practice pavilion will be built to replace it.

A quick note

Stadium renovations and the university's side of the Gateway Project will cost $120 million and is mostly alumni and donor-funded. Construction is set to start in spring 2026 and take approximately two to three years to complete.

DesRoches said the university anticipates that the stadium will be ready for competition by the first game of 2028; however, he said that games will continue to be held at the stadium during construction, with the exception of one to two games.