SEWALL HALL RENOVATION, RICE UNIVERSITY in Houston, TX

Sewall Hall at Rice University in Houston underwent a renovation completed in August 2026. The project, filed as the Sewall Hall Renovation, Rice University, involved the renovation of existing offices and classrooms and the conversion of a storage room into two single-use bathrooms. The work covered 6,900 sq ft of space at 6100 Main Street in the University Place neighborhood of Harris County.

The building passed its final TDLR accessibility inspection in August 2026, confirming that construction is complete. The project was registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) in September 2025. Jackson & Ryan Architects served as the design firm of record, while Jeromy G Murphy was the registered accessibility specialist. The owner of record is WM Rice Institute.

With an estimated cost of $700,000, the project represents a significant investment in the university's infrastructure. This cost is above the Harris County median for renovation and alteration filings, which stands at $250,000. The project’s scheduled build window of 186 days was longer than the county median of 92 days for similar work. The cost per square foot was $101, exceeding the county median of $80 per square foot.

The address is in ZIP code 77005, where the U.S. Census Bureau estimates a median household income of $215,708 and a median owner-occupied home value of $1,354,300. The area is predominantly owner-occupied, with about 28,231 residents and 10,564 housing units.

City of Houston permit records show 14 permits on file at this street address between February 2026 and August 2026. These include various building permits for office remodels and other alterations. The project is privately funded on private land for private use. Other registered projects in the area include renovations at Amegy on Main, the Houston Methodist Neurosensory building, and Rice Stadium.

WM Rice Institute has six other TDLR-registered projects totaling $88,559,650, including Rice Stadium and the BioScience Research Collaborative. Jackson & Ryan Architects has six other TDLR-registered projects totaling $16,676,000, including the Houston Spca facility and the League City Animal Care Adoption Center. The completion of this renovation aligns with the broader pattern of development and maintenance at Rice University.