Texas A&M University Breaks Ground on Space Institute

Texas A&M University broke ground in November of 2024 on the Space Institute in Houston. Designed by Energy Architecture, the $200 million building is strategically sited on 32 acres at NASA's Exploration Park, just outside the access-controlled area of the Johnson Space Center. The 400,000-sf structure will provide sophisticated environments for aeronautics research and the development of advanced robotics. Specialized facilities for simulation training will prepare the space experts of tomorrow to play a pivotal role in future lunar missions and the exploration of Mars.

Paving the way for the next generation of space engineering research, the project will act as a nexus where commercial, civilian, and defense partners can engage to drive innovation in this rapidly growing industry. Vaughn Construction is acting as general contractor, with Gonzalez Shah Smith as MEP engineer, Walter P Moore as civil engineer, Gessner Engineering as structural engineer, and DataCom Design Group as technology and security engineer. Completion is anticipated in fall of 2026.