Rice Stadium Practice Facility in Houston, TX

Rice Stadium Practice Facility is an 86,400-square-foot renovation and alteration project located at 6100 Main Street in Houston’s University Place neighborhood. The filing describes the scope as a covered practice field and accessory buildings, with an estimated cost of $19,000,000. This privately funded project is owned by WM Rice Institute and designed by Populous, Inc.

TDLR completed plan review in June 2026 and construction is scheduled to finish in May 2027, with work starting September 2026. The registered accessibility specialist of record is Michael Lynn Kelley. The project was registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs in March 2026, establishing its status within the state’s accessibility framework.

The estimated cost of $19,000,000 places this project above the Harris County median for renovation and alteration filings, which stands at $250,000. The size of 86,400 square feet is significantly larger than the county median of 4,000 square feet for similar work. The calculated cost of $220 per square foot is also above the county median of $80 per square foot.

WM Rice Institute has six other TDLR-registered projects in Houston, totaling $70,259,650. These include Sewall Hall at Rice University and a $55,913,000 project listed simply as Rice University. Populous, Inc. has worked on five other registered projects at NRG Stadium, ranging from $400,000 to $5,339,285. This pattern indicates a consistent track record for both the owner and the design firm in major Houston construction.

Site Context and Local Activity

The address is in ZIP code 77005, where the U.S. Census estimates a population of about 28,231 and a median household income of $215,708. Nearby landmarks include the Japanese Garden, the Pioneer Memorial Obelisk, and the Mary Gibbs and Jesse H. Jones Reflection Pool. City of Houston permit records show 14 permits on file at this street address, issued between February 2026 and August 2026. These include a building permit for an 86,400-square-foot stadium pavilion addition and site work.