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Exterior view of the University of Houston football operations facility at dusk, featuring a large illuminated “UH” logo on a glass façade, modern architecture, landscaped walkways, and a neighboring athletic building with a glowing red roofline and University of Houston branding

University of Houston Memorial Hermann Football Operations Center

Player Development Creating an Edge for a New Big 12 Team

Project Location

Houston, TX

Total Project Cost

$130 Million

Opening Date

2025

Services

Architect of record, sports design, engineering, interiors, acoustical design, and experiential graphic design in association with Stantec

The University of Houston, which joined the Big 12 Conference beginning the 2023-2024 season, sought to elevate its football program’s recruiting and player development infrastructure and aimed to create a state-of-the-art Football Operations Center. Our design of the new UH Memorial Hermann Football Operations Center aligns with the University’s aspirations by fostering excellence among student-athletes, coaches, and staff. The design optimizes space utilization, ensuring every square foot serves a clear purpose and supports the University’s goal of maximizing efficiency.

The layout is meticulously crafted to enhance circulation and functionality, enabling seamless movement and interaction among different groups. The Center, strategically located at the west end of TDECU Stadium, seamlessly integrates with the existing infrastructure, while offering cutting-edge facilities for football student-athletes and enhanced amenities for fans. Through innovative design, advanced technology, and careful attention to detail, the Memorial Hermann Football Operations Center sets a new benchmark for collegiate football operations facilities.

The three-story, nearly 160,000-SF UH Memorial Hermann Football Operations Center focuses on student-athlete development in all its various forms. Featured spaces inside the facility include a strength and conditioning complex, sports medicine and hydrotherapy areas, team dining area, fueling station, locker rooms, equipment room, team meeting rooms, auditorium, coach and football operations offices, academic and study spaces, and student-athlete lounge. In addition, nearly 30,000 SF is dedicated to new premium experience options for the stadium. A club lounge and 14 suites replace the existing west upper seating bowl and create a new experience for end-zone patrons. Above the club, a new rooftop terrace connects to the previously disconnected sideline seating bowls.

DLR Group is the Architect of Record and provided architecture, MEP engineering, interiors, acoustical design, and experiential graphic design services in association with Stantec.

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A large, open training facility filled with weightlifting racks and equipment arranged in rows, surrounded by floor‑to‑ceiling windows with views of the city skyline
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  • A large, open training facility filled with weightlifting racks and equipment arranged in rows, surrounded by floor‑to‑ceiling windows with views of the city skyline
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  • A dimly lit athletic locker room entrance featuring large illuminated displays of football helmets and jerseys, with rows of red and white team lockers visible on both sides and a glowing “Cougars” sign overhead
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  • A tiered team meeting room with rows of black theater-style seats facing a red accent wall with motivational text and a large “Cougars” logo on the side wall.
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  • A dark equipment room lined with shelves of football helmets and pads, illuminated by red accent lighting, with metal benches positioned along the center walkway.
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  • A dark hydrotherapy room featuring a lit soaking pool with red accent lighting, black tile walls, ceiling spotlights, and a separate area with cascading water jets on the left.
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  • large outdoor football stadium with gray seating surrounding a green field marked “Houston Cougars,” featuring a massive video board on one end and a city skyline visible in the background under a bright, partly cloudy sky.
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  • A bright, modern cafeteria serving area with light wood counters, glass food display stations, white tile columns, and overhead heat lamps, with two people working behind the central counter and potted plants placed throughout the space
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  • A lounge suite overlooking a stadium, featuring gray sofas, red lounge chairs, a wall mounted TV showing a football game, and a group of people standing at a counter by large windows with a view of the field.
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  • A nighttime football game in a packed stadium, showing players on the field near the end zone with a large illuminated scoreboard and crowd-filled stands in the background.
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  • A large outdoor stadium filled with spectators, with multiple seating levels, an illuminated scoreboard displaying a football game, and fans standing and cheering along the concourse in the foreground.
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  • A bright, modern lobby with white walls and large windows, featuring a sweeping staircase with red accents, a wall displaying “Yokubaitis Hall Legacy of Football Excellence,” and a curved glass case showcasing rows of red football helmets.
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  • A bright lobby area with a large illuminated “Houston Cougars Football” sign above the entrance to a locker room, and a display of mannequin football uniforms in a red-framed case along the adjacent wall.
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  • A bright lobby hallway featuring a large red-framed display case with three illuminated mannequin football uniforms and a wall sign reading “Houston Football,” with polished concrete floors and exposed ceiling fixtures.
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  • A bright hallway display featuring a large illuminated NFL logo flanked by framed images of football players and a grid of shelves showcasing various team helmets against a red and white backdrop.
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Joining the Big 12 Conference is a historic step in our institutional journey and signifies the tremendous growth and success [UH has had] over the last decade. Our expectations remain high, our aspirations continue to be bold, and we embrace this new opportunity to compete at the highest levels in all we do.”

​Dr. Renu Khator Chancellor and President, University of Houston​
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Award

2026 Facilities of Merit Award

Athletic Business

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