Rice University in Houston will open its 12th residential college, the Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao College — referred to as Chao College — in 2026.
The university says Chao College will offer nearly 300 on-campus beds and, together with its off-campus community, will be home to more than 400 undergraduate students.
Construction is underway for a sustainably designed building complex featuring two residential towers. One tower is five stories, and the other is 10 stories. The complex will have a 3,000-square-foot rooftop terrace and an 11,000-square-foot central quad.
The architects are Henning Larsen and Kirksey; the general contractor is Harvey Cleary Construction.
Dean of Undergraduates Bridget Gorman said Chao College will play a vital role as Rice continues to grow its student body, which is expected to increase to 5,200 undergraduates by 2028 – a 30% rise since 2020.
The addition of Chao College reinforces Rice’s residential college system, which has shaped undergraduate life since 1957. Unlike many universities, Rice does not have sororities, fraternities or separate housing for honors students and athletes. Instead, each newly admitted student is randomly assigned to one of the residential colleges, where they remain throughout their undergraduate years.
At the heart of each college is a dedicated faculty magister and their family, who live adjacent to students and provide academic, cultural and personal guidance.
The students themselves lead their colleges by managing budgets, serving in judicial roles, providing academic advising and planning cultural, athletic and social events.
Chao College joins Rice’s other residential colleges--Baker, Will Rice, Hanszen, Wiess, Jones, Brown, Lovett, Sid Richardson, Martel, McMurtry and Duncan.
The new college has been made possible by a donation from the Chao family foundation. The late Ting Tsung (T.T.) Chao built a global enterprise in Asia before moving his business to Houston in the 1980s. Sons James and Albert went on to found Westlake Corp.
