Imagine a building where students gather to develop the skills to ward off a global cyberattack, conduct research that leads to advances in the treatment of diseases and discover ways to address complex problems through data analysis. A world-class building featuring a collaborative learning space that engages faculty and students in the study of engineering, the sciences and nursing in new and innovative ways will soon be a reality on the campus of Houston Christian University.
The Smith Engineering, Science and Nursing Building, slated to open in Fall 2026, is a building whose time has come, thanks to a $20 million-dollar lead gift from Sherry and Jim Smith, the largest single gift in HCU’s history. Named in the couple’s honor, the structure will provide state-of-the-art technology, learning spaces and labs to attract premier faculty and equip students with the skills to compete in the high-demand engineering, science and nursing fields.
WORLD – CLASS STEM BUILDING
The $60 million-dollar, 71,000-square-foot building boasts a modern contemporary design and will be an iconic multidisciplinary facility that will continue to grow and promote HCU’s dedication to excellence. The three-story structure will be located on the east side of the HCU campus adjacent to Morris House, with a direct view of the Morris Family Center for Law & Liberty, celebrating the University’s dedication to the past and to the future.
Houston-based Churchworx, a general contractor known for development of numerous faith-based and commercial projects, will join forces with award- winning Kirksey Architecture on construction of the building with a groundbreaking in Spring 2025.
HCU President Robert Sloan commended the HCU Board of Trustees for approving funding for construction of the building, paving the way for the new structure to become a reality.
“The Board’s approval of the financing plan for the new Sherry and Jim Smith Engineering, Science and Nursing Building marks a day of historic significance for the University. These new academic facilities, including laboratories, classrooms, and offices, have long been the greatest facility need for HCU and will complement our well-known and established excellence in these areas.
“The Board’s action is both careful and visionary and represents a great and important day for Houston Christian University,” said Dr. Sloan. Dr. Sloan expressed appreciation to the Smiths and called their gift “consistent with their family’s long history of generosity, beginning with Jim’s father, Orrien Smith,” one of the Founding Fathers of the private faith- based institution.
“Jim and Sherry have, for decades, worked tirelessly on behalf of the University and have used their gifts, as well as their wisdom, to further the Christian mission of HCU. This gift will produce spectacular results in the important STEM-related areas of engineering, science and nursing, not only for HCU but also for Houston and well beyond. We will forever be indebted to this great family,” said Dr. Sloan. This is truly a building whose time has come.
With growing shortages for qualified workers in the STEM and nursing fields, the Smiths believe that a “world-class STEM building will be an unbelievable recruitment vehicle for serious students wanting a great education in a safe and wholesome campus environment.” With the increasing need to fill STEM-related and nursing jobs, the new state-of-the-art building will enable the University to prepare students for high- demand professions in fields such as data science, cybersecurity, computer science, registered nursing, kinesiology and more. With anticipated completion by the Fall 2026 semester, the new Smith Engineering, Science and Nursing Building will enable the University to advance Imperative One of its Institutional Strategic Plan 2030 by providing new instructional space for students pursuing undergraduate- and graduate-level degrees in high-demand STEM-related disciplines and will work in tandem with the University’s goal to grow HCU’s student population to 10,000 by 2030.
FROM VISION TO REALITY
With every vision comes careful and intensive planning. Administrators and faculty from the College of Science and Engineering and Linda Dunham School of Nursing met with the general contractor and design team to take part in the decision-making process with the aim of building a state-of-the-art structure that includes science laboratories, instructional and simulation labs, project space/capstone learning environments and faculty and administrative offices.
“To provide our students with critical learning experiences that will carry them into their future careers, it is important that our physical spaces match the high quality of our faculty and curricula. The new building will not only provide excellent lab spaces for experimentation, but also the additional space creates the opportunity for HCU to transform existing spaces into active learning classrooms that will support high impact teaching and learning practices,” said Dr. Katie Evans, Dean of the College of Science and Engineering.
Dr. Carol Lavender, Dean of the Linda Dunham School of Nursing, and her team of faculty members look forward to the positive impact the new building and ancillary spaces will have on the University’s nursing programs and the success of faculty in preparing students for careers in the nursing field.
“We are so grateful to our donors for a building that will contribute to educating students in the Linda Dunham School of Nursing and equipping HCU nursing graduates to serve in Houston-area hospitals and community health settings,” said Dr. Lavender.
Blake Swanson, Assistant Professor and Simulation Laboratory Director, expressed gratitude to donors and campus leadership for the opportunity to have a new place to call “home” in the new building.
“We believe that the Dunham Family Nursing Center is going to help the HCU nursing program continue to grow and develop outstanding future nurses. We think the new nursing lab space will be a shining light for nursing education, while continuing to demonstrate our central confession that ‘Jesus Christ is Lord,’” said Swanson.
BUILDING RENDERING AND LAYOUT EXTERIOR DESIGN
The modern contemporary design of the Smith Engineering, Science and Nursing Building will incorporate a mix of brick, limestone, glass and metal panels, making the structure a dynamic focal point of the campus. The building will feature a project space design concept with an expansive glass exterior, providing a see-through look into the building’s interior — a trending design choice in the construction industry.
The design creates a strong indoor-outdoor connection that includes the extension of the commons space to an exterior porch area where students can connect. On entry, visitors will be greeted with an open view of a two-story lobby with spaces for students to gather between lectures and an arching staircase leading to faculty and student lounges on the second floor.
Teaching moments are part of the student’s experience, occurring not only in the learning studio but throughout the building. From the exterior design of the brick and shade structure to the exposed ceilings, the building will act as a teaching tool. The visual impact of the rooms and floors as one approaches the facility will highlight a dynamic environment that engages students. Diverse collaboration spaces connected to natural light will be located throughout, making this building a destination for all students. An energy-efficient shading system with LED lighting will be installed on the exterior of the building to provide shading by day and make a dramatic visual statement by night, illuminating the structure and providing a kaleidoscope of color options.
The rendering includes plans for future buildings, as well as future green space, to allow growth as the University evolves. The building is slated for completion in Fall 2026, with plans for a comprehensive parking solution to be announced before the start of construction in the spring semester. For more information, visit HC.edu/ESN.
Engineering – 1st Floor
Two freshman engineering and computer science labs will provide additional class-lab space to support significant growth in these degree areas. The spaces are designed to maintain a pedagogical model of lecture-lab that enables students to move seamlessly from theory to practice in a class-lab session.
An electronic circuits and power lab will allow students to learn and practice with power fundamentals and emerging power technologies, like solar and wind energy, which are particularly important to the Houston workforce because of the city’s strong energy industry. This class-lab will also offer multiple courses in circuit and electronics analysis, which are fundamental content areas for electrical and cyber engineering.
The engineering project space will expand the capacity for students to complete projects for engineering and computing courses and engage in project work for co-curricular learning opportunities. The space will include facilities for woodworking and dirty manufacturing, enhanced clean manufacturing for 3D printing and circuit board design, project storage to allow students to work on larger footprint projects, expanded group project working space to accommodate student body growth and maintain project-driven curriculum, and an office for an engineering lab director who will mentor students.
Nursing – 2nd Floor
A faculty lounge will provide engineering, science and nursing faculty with secure storage and a place to collaborate or take a break when teaching back-to-back lab courses.
Nursing simulation will be comprised of multiple simulation suites that replicate acute hospital settings for specialty areas such as critical care, labor and delivery, and pediatrics. The spaces will be equipped with high fidelity, life-like human simulators that are diverse in race and ethnicity and include real equipment and supplies for all specialties, as well as a simulated medication dispenser.
Two seminar rooms will be outfitted with fundamental scientific instrumentation for undergraduate research. One room will also house an Anatomage virtual dissection table used to teach science and nursing students.
Nursing skills labs will feature two hospital-like settings where faculty will demonstrate best nursing practices and students will demonstrate those practices to evaluate clinical readiness of nursing skills. Each lab will be comprised of 10 bays that simulate general medical-surgical rooms to include low fidelity, human-like manikins and equipment and supplies needed for patient care, including state-of-the-art hospital beds. One lab will provide faculty-supervised student practice outside of scheduled lab or class for competency demonstration preparedness.
A student lounge and break area with soft seating will enable engineering, science and nursing students to collaborate, meet with faculty for assistance or study privately. Soft seating will be provided throughout the Smith Engineering, Science and Nursing Building to support informal, out-of-class learning opportunities, a design trend found in many new academic buildings.
For the Master of Science in Nursing-Nurse Practitioner (MSN-NP) program there will be four multi-functional, fully equipped, simulated clinical treatment rooms to allow advanced nursing students to practice assessment and skills as well as demonstrate these NP competencies at checkpoints throughout the programs.
Science Labs – 3rd Floor
The third floor will feature numerous science labs outfitted with modern technology, lab equipment and lab stations.
Three labs will be specifically designed for teaching introductory biology or chemistry.
A larger, dedicated organic chemistry lab will create opportunities for more innovative learning experiences.
An advanced chemistry lab will feature state-of-the-art instrumentation for junior and senior chemistry and biochemistry students and instruments used in undergraduate research.
A microbiology lab will feature instumentation and chemicals that will serve nursing and STEM majors.
An advanced biology lab will feature state-of-the-art instrumentation for junior and senior biology and biochemistry students and instruments used in undergraduate research.
An anatomy and physiology lab will provide expanded capacity to serve the growing number of nursing majors.
An educational support area will provide advanced instrumentation and experimental stations in chemistry and biology, a science student project area and a science lab director’s office.
NEW CYBER ENGINEERING LAB (ATWOOD II)
HCU’s Cyber Engineering program was born out of Houston’s industry need for engineers who can operate at the intersection of information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT), e.g., valves, sensors, pumps and actuators. These devices exist in all sectors of the economy, including critical infrastructures, which are prevalent in Houston. Cyber Engineering is a more modern engineering degree supported by computer science, electrical engineering and cybersecurity fundamentals, along with newer coursework specific to the intersection of IT and OT.
To support this degree, we have designed and built labs to provide training environments for our students in both the IT and OT spaces. These labs allow our students to develop their skills in attacking and defending within IT and OT and across both domains. The Cyber Engineering degree, as with all of HCU’s offerings from the Department of Engineering, is a project-based curriculum with all courses taught in a lecture-lab format, providing a seamless transition between theory and practice and allowing students the necessary “real-life” experiences to make them better employees.
The IT Network lab that we currently have in place allows students to build a network from the ground up and then learn how to build and monitor security information and event management (SIEM) software, servers and other networking devices. In addition to building and working with these technologies, our students are taught how to secure and defend a network properly, using ethical decisions built on Christian morals and beliefs.
The newest engineering lab is the OT Networks lab, which was established by the support of Lonestar Electric Supply, the Metzler Family Foundation, ABB, and a U.S. Department of Education Title V grant. The lab includes 16 stations of networked programmable logic controllers (PLCs) from ABB, associated analog and digital inputs and outputs, and human-machine interfaces (HMIs).
Our vision was to create a mock Security Operations Center (SOC) where our students will monitor the network traffic from both the IT and OT labs. They will be able to analyze the data, monitor and detect threats and investigate and respond to suspicious activity.
THE SHERRY AND JIM SMITH ENGINEERING, SCIENCE AND NURSING BUILDING DONORS
THE SHERRY AND JIM SMITH ENGINEERING, SCIENCE AND NURSING BUILDING
Sherry and Jim Smith
Sherry and Jim Smith are longtime supporters of HCU. Their lead gift in 2018, the single largest gift received in HCU’s history, has paved the way for construction of the world-class Smith Engineering, Science and Nursing building that will provide labs and collaborative learning spaces to prepare students to compete in high-demand STEM fields.
Dr. Archie W. Dunham
Esther Wong
The Cullen Trust for Higher Education
Linda Davis and Bruce Williams
The Hamill Foundation
Jennifer and Tadd MBA ‘99 Tellepsen
Sue and Dr. Robert Sloan
The Brown Foundation
Cindy and Randy ‘76 Garbs
The Fondren Foundation
MD Anderson Foundation
Col. Newt Cole
Memorial Hermann Health System Foundation
The Elkins Foundation
Cindy and Dr. Dan Wilford
Jennifer ‘99 and Damon ‘00, MBA ‘03 Maddox
Max Cowan
Drs. Jane ‘75 and C. J. ‘77 Wheeler III
Becky and Dr. Tom ‘75 Wheeler
Dr. Diane ‘93 and Stanley Williams
Vivian L. Smith Foundation
Alice and Dr. Lawrence ‘78 Fan
Kathie and Dr. Milton MAP ‘04 Magness
Lucy and Skip McBride
Ed Rachal Foundation
Sharon and Dr. Les Saunders
Sandra and Frank Mooney
Carrie and Ron Woliver
Tana and Dale ‘83 Jefferson
Cathy and Steve Moniaci
Emmitt Nelson
Rosalyn and Barry Margolis
Kelly and Rev. Gregg Matte
Melissa and Matt Morris
Lindsay and Marc Rylander
Judy and Geren Graham
Jan and Jerome Smith
Linda Dunham School of Nursing
Judi ‘94 and Mark Pyburn
Clay Porter
Jane Jester ‘68 and Steve Marmion
Vicki and Dr. Stanley Napper
Kintra and Rev. Garry Blackmon
Madeline and Ted Collier
Stephen Pickett ‘80
Cheryl and Rev. Omar Garcia
Cyndi and Keith Jacobson
Hillary and Dr. Chris Kouba
Dr. Chuck Lang ‘75
Faith and Dr. Steven Peterson
Pam and Clois Smith
Dr. Alfredo Villareal Gonzalez ‘80
Vivian Camacho Winslow ‘91
Dr. Susan Priest
Nona and Rev. Tom Mosley
Heather and Dr. James Steen
Rev. Willie Davis
Dr. Jacqueline Peltier Horn
Shelby Stafford Waddell ‘17, MA ‘19
Mark Schmidt
Dr. Marie Mater
Julie Voss
Gillian Alexander
Teri Marbach
Patricia Bailey
Michael Matlage
Jill Bullard ‘90 and David Almaguer
Candace ‘94 and Keith Desrosiers
Dr. Lisa Ellis
Victoria Means
Donna Cox
Betty Howell
Melanie Hagerty ‘06
Peter Bolin ‘21
We at Houston Christian University extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to alumni, friends and foundations for their contributions to the University’s most successful capital campaign.
*The above list reflects names of donors as of Oct. 16, 2024.