Houston, Texas
 

Reinventing the front door of campus

Project Highlights

  • The development offers improved amenities for the campus edge and conveys the HCU brand architecturally—Belin Tower serves as an iconic terminus for the campus entrance
  • The university self-developed and financed the in-line retail and infrastructure and entered into ground leases for the two retail pad sites to maximize financial return—retail development has outperformed the market with rental rates nearly double those of the surrounding market and annual revenue to HCU exceeds projections
  • Success of Phase 1 positioned HCU to capitalize out of the development and monetize the phase 1 retail assets to pay off existing debt, take an equity position in phase 2, and invest in additional campus improvements

Client:
Houston Christian University

Solutions:
Mixed-use development advisory services

B&D led a comprehensive and collaborative planning effort, beginning with a strategic visioning session designed to align stakeholder aspirations and establish a clear, efficient roadmap for success. Each proposed project was rigorously evaluated across programmatic, locational, market, political, capital, and operational dimensions to ensure feasibility and impact. Through in-depth community and campus market analyses, concept development, and program planning, the team shaped initiatives that respond to both institutional goals and local context. Complementing this work, they developed robust financial analyses, assessed financing structures, and crafted actionable implementation strategies. To bring these visions to life, the team also managed the selection of development partners for each campus-edge project, leveraging diverse financing and delivery models to achieve maximum value and long-term success.