On Tuesday, Houston Christian University (HCU) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Sherry and Jim Smith Engineering, Science, and Nursing Building. The event marked the beginning of construction on a new $60 million facility aimed at expanding academic opportunities in high-demand STEM-related fields.

The project is being supported by a $20 million donation from Sherry and Jim Smith, Jr., the largest single gift in the university’s history. The three-story, 71,000-square-foot building will be constructed on the east side of the HCU campus, adjacent to Morris House, with a direct view of the Morris Family Center for Law & Liberty.

Designed to provide advanced instructional and laboratory spaces, the building will serve students in engineering, science, and nursing programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. It will also support HCU’s Institutional Strategic Plan 2030, specifically “Imperative One,” which focuses on expanding academic infrastructure and enrollment. The university aims to grow its student population to 10,000 by the year 2030.

In the fall of 2024, HCU enrolled a record 4,276 students—the highest total enrollment in the university’s history.

The university, formerly known as Houston Baptist University, changed its name to Houston Christian University in 2022 to better reflect its commitment to welcoming students from across the Christian denominational spectrum. University President Dr. Robert B. Sloan has emphasized HCU’s mission to serve all Christians while maintaining its core values.

The groundbreaking ceremony included remarks from local leaders, including Houston Mayor John Whitmire, as well as university officials and members of the Smith family.

Construction on the Sherry and Jim Smith Engineering, Science, and Nursing Building is expected to play a key role in the university’s long-term academic and enrollment growth strategies.