Administration and Finance Focus
 
 

                                                                                                               

Open House at Energy Research Park

The University of Houston held an open house at the 4902 Gulf Freeway property of the Energy Research Park (ERP) this week, demonstrating the space that will be utilized for offices, storage, and future research programs for employees and close affiliates of the university.

�Energy Research Park was an idea conceived of by Dr. Carlucci, and it�s to cluster all of our research programs that have to do with the energy industry in one place, and mix commercial businesses, using the technology from the University of Houston together with our academic programs,� explained John Walsh, Director of Real Estate and Planning. �So we have a whole range of academic and research and administrative functions that have to do with the energy industry.�

Mr. Walsh, in conjunction with UH administrators has been an instrumental force in the acquisition and development in these plans for ERP. Walsh�s enthusiasm is clear as he explains that, �The beautiful part of this is that Dr. Khator�s energy council, composed of the executives of the Houston area, have made the decision to focus their efforts on the research part as well. So, it�s really a big step forward for Houston and a big step forward for the University of Houston.�

When asked where he sees Energy Research Park going in the next five years, Walsh says that the previous third-party tenets will gradually be replaced by those involved in UH�s research program as the university expands.

�We can continue to build on this campus � new facilities that either cater to a specific research program or for general purposes and other academic and/or administrative functions for the University of Houston. So we have a lot of growth potential. This can be one of the real highlights of the Houston area,� said Walsh.

The University of Houston is certainly pleased by the opportunities that these facilities and land will provide, and looks forward to the further development made possible by its acquirement.

For more information on UH Energy Research Park, visit www.uh.edu/realestate.