About Us

About the West Houston Institute

The West Houston Institute is HCC's Center for Innovation, Design, and Creativity. Conceived and developed by an HCC team of innovators with input from throughout the institution and the community, the Institute has a mission of bringing creativity and innovation to our college and our community to more effectively reach and engage this generation of learners. Indeed, the Institute's vision is the re-imagination and reinvention of higher education through a unique design and combination of both spaces and programs.

The West Houston Institute is home to the IDEAS Academy and Innovation Fellows Programs, and houses a 10,000 square feet makerspace (IDEAStudio), a collaborative solution design studio called the “Collaboratorium”, science research labs with a scanning electron microscope, a unique learning commons, an auditorium, a state of the art AR/VR lab, and a Learning Spaces Initiative which makes it the most unique innovation venue in Houston.

Our Vision, Mission, and Values