How To Live In Houston

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1 Houston Vibrant. Diverse. Innovative.

2 Houston Attending college in the country s fourth-largest city means that Rice students tap into a thriving, culturally enriched community where opportunities abound. A vibrant city known for its energy, can-do spirit and international presence, Houston ranks high when it comes to jobs, innovation, and world-class arts and entertainment. HOUSTON QUICK FACTS: Houston was ranked No. 1 Coolest Cities to Live by Forbes in July The city serves as corporate headquarters for 23 companies listed on the 2012 Fortune 500, the second-greatest number of any U.S. city. The Texas Medical Center is the largest medical center in the world. The medical center consists of 52 institutions, including 20 dedicated to education and research. The Port of Houston has ranked first in the U.S. in volume of foreign tonnage for 17 consecutive years. Houston is home to the country s third-largest consular corps, and more than 90 languages other than English are spoken. No racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of Houston s population. Houston Metro/Sugar Land/Baytown (Population: 5,979,911) Anglo: 39% Hispanic: 38% African-American/Black: 16% Asian: 5% Other: 2% U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2010 The 17-acre downtown Theater District is home to nine performing arts organizations and second only to Manhattan in seats concentrated in one geographic area. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is one of the nation s 10-largest art museums. Houston has 52,700 acres of parkland, including 550 parks, public green spaces and open water. Houston s two major airports offer nonstop service to 186 cities worldwide. George Bush Intercontinental Airport is served by 18 airlines, and five airlines operate out of William P. Hobby Airport.

3 Business And Economy A hub for energy, bio- and nanotechnology, engineering and financial sectors, Houston is known as the energy capital of the world. Twenty-three Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in Houston, and more than half of the 100-largest foreign-based corporations have operations here. These industries along with government and nonprofit organizations provide students with opportunities to gain valuable work experience and network with potential employers. Houston is home to the Texas Medical Center (TMC), the largest medical center in the world. Rice s collaborations with the TMC began in 1964, when Rice researchers worked with Michael E. DeBakey of Baylor College of Medicine to develop an implantable artificial heart. Today, Rice and the TMC are involved in more than 100 productive partnerships large and small in education, research and outreach. NASA is headquartered in Houston, and Rice has a long history of partnership with the space agency. Rice donated the land on which the Johnson Space Center is built, and NASA helped construct Rice s Space Science Building, home of the first space science department at any university in America. Recent research collaborations between Rice and NASA have come in fields such as gravitational biology, telerobotics, software for high-performance computing, and nanoscale science and engineering. Recent student internship placements Include: ABC Channel 13 Baker Botts L.L.P. Children s Assessment Center City of Houston Mayor s Office ExxonMobil Hobby Center for the Performing Arts Horizon Wind Energy Houston Endowment Inc. Houston Rockets Houston Texans Institute for Sustainable Peace Jones McClure Publishing MD Anderson Cancer Center Menil Collection Merrill Lynch Museum of Fine Arts, Houston NASA Schlumberger Technology for All Texas Heart Institute Houston Rankings No. 1 Coolest Cities to Live (Forbes, July 2012) No. 2 Best Large-sized Cities for Job Growth (newgeography, May 2012) Most Racially/Ethnically Diverse Large Metro Area (Kinder Institute, March 2012)

4 Arts and Entertainment Houston s arts and entertainment scene is world renowned. The city is second only to New York City for the number of theater seats in a concentrated U.S. downtown area. Houston is one of only five cities in the U.S. with permanent professional resident companies in all of the major performing arts disciplines of opera, ballet, music and theater. The Wortham Theater Center is home to the Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet, performances by the Society for the Performing Arts, Da Camera of Houston and Mercury Baroque. The Tony Award-winning Alley Theatre is one of the nation s best residential theater companies. The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts hosts touring Broadway productions and is home to Theatre Under the Stars, Houston s local musical theater producer. Jones Hall, which stretches across an entire city block and welcomes 400,000 visitors each year, is home to the Houston Symphony Orchestra. Adjacent to the Rice University campus, Houston s Museum District is three square miles of art, nature, science and history. The Menil Collection: Privately assembled collection recognized for its depth and eclecticism with examples from world cultures across thousands of years. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH): Houses the largest permanent collection in the Southwest and is one of the nation s 10 largest art museums. The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH): The only Texas museum dedicated solely to exhibiting and interpreting contemporary art. Houston Museum of Natural Science: Host to more than 2.3 million visitors annually and home to the Burke Baker Planetarium; features include laser light shows set to popular music, the eight-story Wortham IMAX Theater and the Cockrell Butterfly Center. Houston Festivals With ample sunshine, mild temperatures and warm Gulf breezes during the school year, Houston is the perfect setting for outdoor festivals and events. Here s a sampling of the city s annual festivities: Art Car Parade Bayou City Art Festival Cinco de Mayo Celebration Festa Italiana Grand Taiko Festival Greek Festival Houston International Jazz Festival Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Houston Shakespeare Festival ifest Houston Juneteenth celebrations Lunar New Year No. 1 Top Cities for IT Jobs (Modis, Feb. 2012) No. 3 American Cities of the Future (fdi Magazine, April 2011) No. 7 Top U.S. Art Cities (away.com, June 2010) No. 1 U.S. City With Highest Performing Charities (Charity Navigator, June 2012)

5 Sports and recreation Houston boasts five major-league professional sports teams, 550 parks, more than 165 public and private golf courses, bike trails and nationally recognized annual athletic events. Professional Sports Teams: Houston Aeros (hockey), Astros (baseball), Dynamo (soccer), Rockets (basketball) and Texans (football). Annual Sports Events: Houston Marathon, Shell Houston Open golf tournament at Redstone Golf Club and U.S. Men s Clay Court Championships. Major Parks: Hermann Park, located across the street from Rice, is home to the Houston Zoo, Miller Outdoor Theatre, picnic grounds, a small lake, an 18-hole public golf course and a Japanese garden. Memorial Park is a short distance from campus and features a three-mile jogging loop, several biking trails, picnic areas, a fitness center and tennis courts. Discovery Green, located in the heart of downtown Houston, offers outdoor fitness classes, movies in the park, hundreds of annual outdoor events, interactive water features, two restaurants, an amphitheater and 12 acres of green space. Kemah Boardwalk and Galveston: Within an hour s drive of campus, these waterfront destinations promise food and fun. The Kemah Boardwalk includes the Boardwalk Bullet, a 96-foot-tall wooden roller coaster overlooking Galveston Bay, plus dozens of restaurants and shops. Galveston is home to historic mansions; 32 miles of Gulf Coast beaches; hundreds of boutiques and restaurants; and Moody Gardens, a luxury resort and entertainment complex featuring an Aquarium Pyramid, Rainforest Pyramid, 4D and IMAX 3D theaters, and venues hosting exhibits and concerts. Helpful Websites For additional information on the city of Houston, visit: Houston Monthly Average Temperatures 80º 72º 63º 56º September October November December 54º 77º 70º 63º 58º January February March April May No. 1 Lowest Cost of Living Large Metros (ACCRA Cost of Living Index, first quarter, 2012) No. 1 for New and Expanded Corporate Facilities (Site Selection magazine, March 2012) No. 1 Mayors and Climate Protection Best Practices Large City (U.S. Conference of Mayors, June 2011)

6 Passport to Houston Whether it is attending an exhibition in the world-class Museum District that neighbors our campus, participating in a public-service internship with a government or nonprofit organization, or hopping the light rail to enjoy any number of Houston s diverse cultural, athletic and culinary offerings, Rice students view this dynamic city as an integral part of their experience on a major urban campus. President David W. Leebron The popular Passport to Houston program gives Rice students free or deeply discounted access to Houston s cultural, entertainment and transportation options. Passport to Houston allows Rice students year-round, free, unlimited transportation on the city s METRORail and bus lines. It also provides unlimited entry to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; the Houston Museum of Natural Science s permanent exhibits and the Cockrell Butterfly Center; and the Houston Zoo. During the school year, Passport to Houston sponsors Rice Night events throughout the city s arts and entertainment community. The Village Kirby Greenbriar Shepherd Rice Boulevard University Boulevard Holcombe Bissonnet Sunset Boulevard Fannin Main Street Texas Medical Center Downtown 59 Montrose Hermann Park METRORail line Binz Museum District N For additional information: Rice University Office of Admission MS 17 P.O. Box 1892 Houston, TX RICE It is the policy of Rice University to attract to its faculty, staff and student body qualified persons of diverse backgrounds. Rice does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs or employment against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, or veteran status. The university s employment policy seeks to recruit, hire and advance women, minority group members, individuals with disabilities, Vietnamera veterans and special disabled veterans. Houston Spirit For all there is to do in Houston, there s something more to the city, something almost indescribable. Some call it generosity of spirit; others call it a can-do attitude. No matter which moniker is used, Houston s commitment to philanthropy is part of the fiber of the city. A 2012 study published by the Chronicle of Philanthropy ranked Houston No. 7 among U.S. metropolitan areas for charitable giving. Contributions made by Houstonians totaled $3.1 billion. On campus, the Center for Civic Engagement connects students with volunteer opportunities, community research and design experiences, and leadership development programs. These activities foster collaboration between students and members of the community and enable students to use their skills and talents to address pressing social problems. Rice students oversee several service organizations on campus, including Habitat for Humanity, Partnership for the Advancement and Immersion of Refugees, and Best Buddies. The Rice community is committed to having a profound impact on the dynamic city it calls home. 9/2012