The Ismaili Center Houston, the first of its kind in the United States, has officially opened following years of planning and construction. The opening ceremony on November 6 was led by His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V and Houston Mayor John Whitmire. The center is intended to serve as both a religious space for Ismaili Muslims and a public gathering place for people of all faiths.
Although the final project cost was not disclosed at the event, a state filing from 2021 estimated it at $176.2 million. The complex spans 150,000 square feet on an 11-acre site at 2323 Allen Parkway near Montrose Boulevard. It includes a two-story parking structure and is surrounded by nine acres of gardens, terraces, and water features.
“This building may be called an Ismaili Center, but it is not here for Ismailis only. It is for all Houstonians,” said Prince Rahim during the ceremony. He described the center as a space for “knowledge, reflection and dialogue.”
The development comes amid contrasting experiences elsewhere in Texas regarding Muslim-led projects. Earlier this year, EPIC City, a master-planned community north of Dallas with Muslim leadership, faced significant opposition from state leaders. In September, the Texas Workforce Commission settled a Fair Housing Act complaint against EPIC City’s developer after new housing policies were agreed upon and staff training implemented; no wrongdoing was admitted.
The Houston project realizes the vision of Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, who purchased the land in 2006 and supported establishing an American Ismaili Center until his death earlier this year. The design was led by Farshid Moussavi from London with landscape architect Thomas Woltz of Nelson Byrd Woltz. Development oversight came from Aga Khan Foundation USA based in Washington D.C., while DLR Group served as architect of record and McCarthy Building Companies acted as general contractor.
Architectural elements include a triangular façade that filters sunlight onto concrete floors inspired by Islamic geometric patterns. Interior details feature wooden walls inscribed with Kufic script and ceilings designed to hide structural components behind intricate screens. The main prayer hall can hold up to 1,500 worshipers and required rotating the building’s orientation toward Mecca by 45 degrees off-grid—a decision that influenced much of its triangular motif.
A grand veranda above the prayer hall provides space for weddings and public events in line with Persian traditions.
Houston has approximately 40,000 Ismaili Muslims—the largest such community in the U.S.—making it a logical location for this center, according to spokesperson Omar Samji. The building’s environmentally conscious design seeks LEED certification as part of Houston’s broader efforts to blend culture, faith, and sustainability.
Mayor Whitmire stated: “The Ismaili Center truly reflects the best of Houston’s spirit: our diversity, our compassion, and our commitment to community.” He also described it as a “beacon of light” for local communities.
The new facility joins six other Ismaili Centers worldwide located in London, Vancouver, Lisbon, Dubai, Dushanbe, and Toronto.
