EDUCATION • GOVERNMENT • HEALTHCARE/MEDICAL HOSPITALITY • MULTI FAMILY • PROFESSIONAL SPACES RELIGIOUS FACILITIES • RETAIL • TRANSPORTATION • AND MORE! Trusted Partner for Flooring Solutions in Texas Since 1974 Over 50 Years of Excellence (281) 598-6001 | 5510 Brittmoore Rd., Houston, TX 77041 | www.mekfloors.com 8CornerstoneSpring2026 agchouston.org NAILED IT S U C C E S S S T O R I E S F R O M T H E H O U S T O N A R E A T HE ISMAILI CENTER, HOUSTON is the first Ismaili Center in the U.S. and the seventh globally. The Center, a gathering place created for prayer and to foster community for people of all back- grounds, was designed to provide spaces for learning, cultural exchange and civic engagement. To build this cultural landmark, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., had to execute complex architectural designs and develop custom materials that honored both traditional Islamic design principles and the contemporary Houston aesthetic. Blending Islamic Tradition with Houston’s Edge The design for the Center merges tradi- tional Islamic architecture with Hous- ton’s urban flair, balancing the beauty of the past with modern techniques and technologies. The building was designed in a tripar- tite form to reflect three core functions: worship, social interaction and learning. Throughout the design, the repetition of geometric patterns, a common element of design in the Islamic world, create visual and symbolic unity throughout the building. The 150,000-square-foot main build- ing includes gallery space, a theater, multiple banquet halls, a café, a prayer hall and classroom spaces organized around the central atrium. The design emphasizes openness and accessibility through covered ter- races, called eivans, supported by 49 custom-formed, star-shaped columns up to 40 feet tall. This Ismaili Center also features expansive outdoor spaces adapted to the city’s hot and humid cli- mate for year-round use including nine acres of landscaping with 13 distinct garden spaces and five water features. Delivering on Intricate Designs A central component of the project involved extensive architectural concrete work. Every concrete element, from structural slabs to sidewalks, featured custom decorative finishes. McCarthy self-performed all architectural concrete, including highly complex applications. Treatments included custom Delivering the Ismaili Center required custom materials, millimeter precision to achieve and honor traditional Islamic design principles. The soaring central atrium of the Ismaili Center, Houston showcases the building’s signature geometric design. Building a Cultural Beacon: Bringing the Ismaili Center, Houston to Life Specialized construction expertise and bespoke fabrication techniques helped deliver the U.S.’s first Ismaili Center, Houston’s newest cultural landmark. ByPrestonHodges,SeniorVicePresidentandHoustonBusiness UnitLeaderatMcCarthyBuildingCompanies,Inc. PhotoscourtesyofIwanBaan
