Texas: Sprawling 150,000-Square-Foot Islamic Center Opens in Houston
Dubbed a "milestone for the global Shia Ismaili Muslim community."
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The grand opening ceremony of a sprawling 150,000-square-foot “milestone for the global Shia Ismaili Muslim community and a transformative addition to the city’s cultural landscape” has opened in Houston. “The Ismaili Center opens in Houston — a first for the U.S.,” by Shafaq Patel, Axios, November 6, 2025:
The stone tapestry, with its triangular patterns, illuminates at night and has shadows in the day.
The Ismaili Center, Houston, an architecturally grand cultural and religious space and one of only seven worldwide, has completed construction and is opening to the public next month.
Why it matters: The 150,000-square-foot center — the first in the U.S. — blends Islamic and contemporary design. It spans 11 acres and sits along Buffalo Bayou.
- While its prayer hall will serve Ismaili Muslims daily, the center and its gardens are designed as a community gathering space open to all Houstonians.
Context: Ismailis, a branch of Shia Islam, are guided by a hereditary imam — currently His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, who succeeded his father in February. Believed to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, the imam leads a community of millions across more than 70 countries.
- Houston has the largest population of Ismailis in the U.S. Tens of thousands of Ismailis live in the greater Houston area and attend the region’s several Jamatkhanas, or prayer halls.
Driving the news: At a Thursday dedication ceremony, the Aga Khan and Mayor John Whitmire officially opened the center.
