Space Institute

Gonzalez Shah Smith is providing MEP/FP engineering and commissioning services for the new Texas A&M University Space Institute adjacent to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The $200 million facility is being developed as a center for mission training, aeronautics research, advanced robotics, and lunar and Martian exploration. The building will include conditioned Moon and Mars simulation environments, secured research garages, common technical support areas, flexible project rooms, and spaces for academic, commercial, and government partners.

The facility is designed to support full-scale engineering, science, health, and medicine simulations while providing flexible infrastructure that can adapt as research and technology needs evolve. Exterior utility connections will support mobile laboratories and containerized functions, while visitor viewing areas will provide opportunities for the public to observe Moon and Mars simulations.

Located on 32 acres next to Johnson Space Center, the four-story Space Institute will also feature expansive indoor Moon and Mars terrain environments designed for testing, research, and training. Together, these spaces will support collaboration among Texas A&M researchers, students, government agencies, and industry partners while strengthening Texas' role in the future of space exploration.