Build+

BUILD+ is the University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit advancing design/build education, research, and community impact. Rooted in more than three decades of hands-on learning, BUILD+ expands the College’s ability to deliver real-world projects that serve communities while preparing students to lead the future of design.

About BUILD+

BUILD+ transforms how design education meets practice. Evolving from the College’s long-standing Graduate Design/Build Studio, one of the oldest programs of its kind in the United States, BUILD+ extends this legacy into a scalable, outward-facing nonprofit platform.

Through BUILD+, students engage the full lifecycle of a project, from concept and design to fabrication and construction, gaining experience that bridges academic learning and professional practice. At the same time, the organization delivers meaningful, built work that responds to real needs in communities across Houston and beyond.

By operating as a nonprofit, BUILD+ enables larger, more ambitious projects, deeper partnerships, and new opportunities for innovation in design, construction, and public impact.

What We Do

BUILD+ operates at the intersection of education, research, and practice, delivering projects that are both pedagogical and public facing.

Design + Build

Students and faculty collaborate to design and construct full-scale projects, translating ideas into built reality.

Community Partnerships

Projects are developed in partnership with local organizations, schools, and civic institutions to create lasting public benefit.

Applied Research

BUILD+ explores emerging technologies, materials, and environmental strategies, from renewable energy systems to advanced fabrication.

Student Experience

Participants gain hands-on experience in project delivery, client engagement, budgeting, fabrication, and construction, skills that prepare them to lead in practice.

Frank Black Middle School Outdoor Classroom

The Future of Impact

BUILD+ represents the next evolution of design/build at the Hines College. By expanding beyond the traditional studio model, the nonprofit creates new pathways for:

Larger-scale and more complex projects
Independent and speculative work
Regional and national partnerships
Increased student access to real-world experience

As BUILD+ grows, it will continue to position the Hines College at the forefront of design/build education, a place where innovation, community impact, and student success converge.

Get Involved

Partner With Us

Collaborate with BUILD+ to bring innovative, community-focused design/build projects to life. Contact BUILD+ President Patricia Oliver at poliver@uh.edu.

Support BUILD+

Your investment helps expand opportunities for students while delivering impactful projects for communities.

Make a Gift to BUILD+