‘Topping Out’ next step for new business building

By Abigail Chiu     3/4/25 10:37pm

Rice Business celebrated the completion of the highest point of its new building with a “topping out” ceremony Feb. 28, where President Reggie DesRoches and Peter Rodriguez, dean of the Jones Graduate School of Business, signed the building’s final beam before it was lifted into place atop the structure. 

The business school broke ground on the new building in May. The unnamed 112,000-square-foot building will include classrooms, dining areas and event spaces. It is set to be completed by spring 2026, and DesRoches said in a speech to attendees he was told the construction of the building is on time, if not early.

The beam had an American flag, a Texas flag and a fir tree, which is a construction tradition.

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The new building is intended to accommodate enrollment increases over the past few years, DesRoches said in a speech to the attendees.

“The growth of Rice Business school reflects a much larger story unfolding across our campus,” DesRoches said. “For the past five years, we’ve launched programs, extended initiatives and welcomed a record number of students and faculty. We’ve seen a rapid rise in undergraduate business majors, a 75% increase in the MBA students since 2016 and a 41% growth in faculty.” 

Rodriguez said the new building will be a hub of collaboration.

“This building stands as more than just a structure of steel and concrete of brick. It’s a symbol of possibility,” Rodriguez said. “By 2026 — well, sometime in 2026 — this building will be built with students, faculty and ideas that will shape the future of business.”

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