McCarthy To Build First Ismaili Center in the United States

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. has begun construction on the Ismaili Center in Houston, Texas, the first Ismaili Center in the United States. McCarthy is the general contractor on the project but is also self-performing all the concrete work. Spearheaded by the Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, the cultural center will serve as a gathering space open to all faiths.

The Ismaili Center will consist of 11 acres of gardens, courtyards and terraces and a 150,000-square-foot, five-story, tripartite building featuring three elevated open terraces. Inside the building there will be a main atrium, interior courtyards open to the sky, a prayer room, library, social hall, exhibit hall, council chamber, black box theatre, classrooms, administrative offices, and a café and kitchen. The center also features a 155,000-square-foot, 600-car garage underneath the gardens.

Every detail of the center reflects Islamic design and its historically rooted, rich architectural heritage, combined with Western design that fits Houston’s climate. The building’s exterior is made of matte, sand-colored marble, crafted to create a clean patchwork of tessellated patterns. Ultra-high-performance concrete panels from Monterrey, Mexico make up the atrium, while light-colored stone from Turkey is meant to mimic the look of Texas limestone. Perforated concrete with German glass glazing behind it allows natural light to pour in while keeping the building cool. The result will allow the building to glow at night, lit from within. All concrete on the project, including sidewalks, feature custom finishes.

The Ismaili Center was designed with environmental sustainability in mind and will seek LEED Gold certification. The campus is located adjacent to the Buffalo Bayou and within a flood zone therefore the overall site is shaped by a possible water event. While the building itself is above the flood plain, the privacy wall that surrounds the gardens allows water in to mitigate flooding in the surrounding area. Landscaping is designed for a flood and native plants in the garden will work to filter stormwater.

Multiple technology innovations are being used on the site, including building information modeling for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work. A 3D model of the building was created to ensure each part of the construction process comes together at the right time, and a robotic total station created the layout of the jobsite, removing user error and ensuring all aspects of the site are accurate.

McCarthy broke ground on the project in October of 2021, with completion expected in the fourth quarter of 2024. The center is designed by U.K.-based Farshid Moussavi, architect of record is Paul Westlake, and the gardens are designed by Thomas Woltz of Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects.