Inspired by the work of the Graduate Design/Build Studio, the Hines College has established a non-profit, BUILD+. "BUILD+ will contribute significantly to the growth of more students from all disciplines of the Hines College while creating lasting improvements to Houston and the region," said professor Patrick Peters.

A year has passed since The Gateway Decathlon chose the University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design as a player in its competitive event, including ten categories addressing the future of housing and providing teams with $100,000 to build their housing units. The international competition puts the Hines College against other architecture schools at California Polytechnic State University, Virginia Tech, Dalian University of Technology, and more. The multi-year process culminates in an exhibition near the iconic Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, where eleven teams will showcase their built designs on-site in the summer of 2026.