The Ismaili Center Houston has officially opened, marking the first such center in the United States. The opening ceremony on November 6 was led by His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V and Houston Mayor John Whitmire. The event is seen as a significant moment for both Houston and the global Ismaili Muslim community.
Although the exact cost of the project was not disclosed at the ceremony, a 2021 state filing estimated it at $176.2 million, with a planned two-story parking structure included in the design. The center occupies an 11-acre site at 2323 Allen Parkway at Montrose Boulevard and covers 150,000 square feet. It is intended to function as both a place of worship and a public gathering space open to people of all faiths.
“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 opening ceremony. He described the center as a space for “knowledge, reflection and dialogue.”
The approach taken in Houston contrasts with recent controversies elsewhere in Texas involving Muslim-led developments. Earlier this year, state leaders were involved in disputes over EPIC City, a master-planned community north of Dallas led by Muslims. In September, the Texas Workforce Commission resolved a Fair Housing Act complaint against Community Capital Partners, EPIC City’s developer. The case was dismissed after the company agreed to implement new housing policies and staff training while admitting no wrongdoing.
The vision for the Houston center originated with Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, who purchased the land in 2006 and supported establishing an American Ismaili Center before his death earlier this year.
London-based architect Farshid Moussavi designed the building with landscape architect Thomas Woltz of Nelson Byrd Woltz. The Aga Khan Foundation USA managed development from Washington, D.C., while DLR Group served as architect of record and McCarthy Building Companies acted as general contractor.
The complex features nine acres of gardens, terraces, and water elements. Its triangular façade functions as both a thermal and light filter. Interior details include custom concrete floors reflecting Islamic geometric traditions and wooden walls inscribed with Kufic script.
A key feature is its prayer hall—a column-free space that can hold up to 1,500 worshipers—rotated 45 degrees to face Mecca. Above it sits a veranda designed for weddings and public events.
This new facility joins six other Ismaili Centers worldwide located in London, Vancouver, Lisbon, Dubai, Dushanbe, and Toronto.
Houston’s selection reflects its status as home to approximately 40,000 Ismaili Muslims—the largest such population in the country—according to spokesperson Omar Samji. The project’s environmentally conscious design aligns with Houston’s image as an international city focused on culture and sustainability.
Mayor Whitmire praised the center’s role within Houston: “The Ismaili Center truly reflects the best of Houston’s spirit: our diversity, our compassion, and our commitment to community.”
