Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business will host a groundbreaking ceremony for a new 112,000-square-foot building designed to accommodate unprecedented growth at the school and the evolving needs of the community.
The new structure will feature state-of-the-art classrooms, modern office spaces and vibrant amenities such as dining areas, open gathering spaces and facilities for private events. The building will seamlessly integrate with McNair Hall — the current home of Rice Business — enhancing the campus environment and continuing to cultivate a collaborative culture.
Over the past five years, Rice Business has experienced rapid growth of its new undergraduate business major, a 50% increase in MBA students, a 41% increase of faculty and an increased cohort to the full-time MBA program and the MBA@Rice and hybrid MBA programs.
What: Groundbreaking ceremony for new Rice Business building
When: Thursday, May 9, 3-5 p.m. The groundbreaking will take place around 3:50 p.m.
Where: Woodson Courtyard at Rice’s McNair Hall. Complimentary self-parking available in the Central Garage.
News media who are interested in attending must RSVP with Avery Franklin, media relations specialist at Rice, at AveryRF@rice.edu or 713-348-6327. Architectural renderings will be provided to the news media.
An all-veteran ownership team, Summit Point Leadership LLC, which launched through the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University and its Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) Lab, has acquired the business of LDR Leadership LLC, a nationwide leadership, management and supervisory training firm.
Congratulations to Robert J. Gaudette on being named President of NRG Energy, and on his appointment as Chief Executive Officer, effective April 30, 2026. Rob is a distinguished Rice Business alum and continues to give back to the school through the Board of Advisors and joined us this year as a speaker at the Rice Energy Finance Summit.
A new study co-authored by Rice Business’ Tommy Pan Fang provides the first large-scale statistical analysis of data center location strategies across the United States. It offers policymakers and firms a clearer starting point for understanding how different types of data centers get located in response to economic and strategic incentives.
