UHD celebrates their new space at 1801 Main St.

UHD hosted a celebratory ribbon cutting for their new offices at 1801 Main St, a space “great for courting donors,” according to President Loren Blanchard. This event was hosted at 10 a.m. on March 4, students, faculty and friends came together to commiserate the launch of UHD on the south side of downtown.

The Offices of Continuing Education and Alumni Relations occupy the entire tenth floor of the Amegy Bank Building located at 1801 Main St. Although not exclusively moved to the new location, Career Services plans to occasionally host networking events there.

In the past, there have been events such as wine tasting and the 2025 Law Summit that had a great turnout, according to Liza Alonso, Assistant Vice President of Presidential Affairs and Constituent Relations.

UHD staff had a positive opinion of the new location. Hayden Bergman, a communications manager at UHD, mentioned that the location would allow the school to fulfill the need for a connection to the southern parts of downtown. He also noted the “great view” and how there had already been “lots of support” for the move to 1801 Main St.

Deborah Bordelon, Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost at UHD, said it was a “great location with opportunities to partner with downtown and the community.”

Allen Douglas, Chief Operating Officer of the Downtown Houston+ Redevelopment Authority, also attended the ceremonial ribbon cutting and commented on how he and his office had “long believed in the vibrancy of downtown.”

President Loren Blanchard delivered an enthusiastic address about the university’s newest space in Downtown Houston, emphasizing its potential to elevate student engagement, academic opportunities, and community partnerships.

“We are really excited about this opportunity to be able to capture this space and to use it for meaningful reasons,” Blanchard said. “Not only as it relates to education, but certainly as it relates to all of the other ways that we can engage this community in a more deep way.”

Describing the initiative as “an authentic partnership,” Blanchard stressed the strong local support UHD continues to receive.

“Everyone says when I go to different places that they’re really excited about the University of Houston-Downtown—not only the aesthetics it has brought to the Downtown area but also the energy. When you have 14,000 students and over 1,000 faculty and staff all in one place, it really brings a different kind of energy downtown.”

Blanchard highlighted the convenience and accessibility of the new space. “Access from campus is easy, especially with the METRO Rail Line, and parking is more than adequate. We’re also excited that the UHD [Shuttle Bus Service] will begin making regular stops here, making it easy for faculty, staff, students, and alumni to navigate between locations.” The date for the shuttle bus service extension has not been confirmed.

Two UHD departments have already begun utilizing the space. Blanchard noted that the Continuing Education department recently hosted a wine-tasting event, drawing attendees from both the university and the broader community. Plans are also underway to begin offering evening courses, further extending the building’s impact.

One of the most promising initiatives to be housed in the new space is the Center for Crime, Urban Research, and Education, a project Blanchard said has been in development for some time.

“We’ve been lobbying in Austin for funding and are working with several local foundations,” he said. The center aims to centralize crime and victimization data in partnership with three local law enforcement agencies—the police department, the sheriff’s office, and the constable’s office.

“So, when I say the sky’s the limit for this space, we are really excited about what the future holds,” Blanchard said. “This is a space that will serve as a technology hub, a place for alumni engagement, and a center for ongoing professional development. We are deeply thankful to Downtown Houston Plus for this partnership and the opportunities it brings to our university and community.”

As UHD continues to expand its presence and partnerships, this new space marks more than just a physical move; it’s a step toward deeper engagement, broader opportunities, and a stronger connection between education and the heart of Houston.