Our vision is to establish a self-sustaining institution at Nueces Mosque that will fortify the faith of college students, train and educate future leaders, and provide a platform for civic, societal, and interfaith engagement. We aim to construct an iconic institution in the heart of Texas that will house a Masjid, Dawah Center, Seminary, and an Education Center for new and renewed Muslims from all over the world.

Mufti Mohamed-Umer Esmail (Rahimahullah) was one of the most prominent Islamic scholars in North America. His untimely passing in 2019 profoundly impacted the UT and Austin community. Mufti Umer served for decades as an imam in Austin, leading the Nueces Mosque community for almost a decade. He was deeply beloved by University of Texas students, whom he guided at Nueces Mosque. Known for his interfaith work and frequent public lectures on Islam, Mufti Umer left an indelible mark on the community and its vision. Naming the center after him is a tribute to his lifetime of service to the community and his vision for Nueces Mosque.

The project is currently in the Design and Engineering phase (pre-construction). The site development plan was submitted to the City of Austin on May 20, 2024. We have engaged the services of a highly-experienced professional team of civil engineers, site planners, architects, structural & mechanical engineers, and permit expeditors to complete all the necessary site plan and building design documents. We anticipate site development plan approval in the first half of 2025. Our objective is to mobilize construction in the fall of 2025 and ensure completion no later than 2027, Insha-ALLAH, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Nueces Mosque. Kindly refer to the project master schedule on our website for more details: nuecesmosque.com/reconstruction.

The new facility will be a six-story, 74,677 sq ft mixed-use building with the following components:Ground Floor: Masjid, lobby, and offices – 14,111 sq ft2nd Floor: Mufti Umer Center for Education & Outreach and the Nueces Seminary – 13,194 sq ft3rd to 6th Floors: Gender-dedicated student housing (36 units, 92 bedrooms) – 47,372 sq ftLocated near downtown Austin, where construction costs are much higher than suburban areas, the project is currently estimated between $325 to $375 per sq ft. We have issued formal Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to general contractors (GCs) for an early pricing exercise & competitive bidding. We will continue to refine project costs as we progress through GC selection and value engineering phases.Funding Plan:Community donations will fund the Masjid and Dawah/Education Center.Student housing will be financed through Islamic loans or alternative financing.As of December 2024, we have secured approximately $2.6M. We aim to raise an additional $2M by Ramadan 2025. Our goal is to mobilize construction once we have $6M cash on hand and all permits have been approved. The remaining funds will be raised during the two-year construction phase.‍

Self-sustainability is a core objective of this project. Rental income from student housing will generate funds to cover operating expenses, including maintenance, salaries, and programs. Our vision is to provide Muslim students at UT Austin with access to world-class programming, direct contact with the Imams, teachers, counselors, and visiting scholars, along with the best facilities for a place they will call home and their spiritual sanctuary.UT Austin has a growing demand for student housing, with over 7,000 additional beds needed, according to a recent market analysis by CBRE. Nueces Mosque aims to address this demand by offering a safe and wholesome Islamic living environment with gender-dedicated floors, providing Muslim students at UT Austin access to world-class facilities, programs, and spiritual guidance.‍

High-rise construction in downtown Austin differs significantly from suburban projects. This site requires:A permit to block adjacent streets during construction.A construction crane to vertically erect the building, which will be dismantled post-structure completion.Preordering all building materials to meet the city-approved construction timeline.Phased construction is not economical and would increase costs significantly. Therefore, a unified construction approach is necessary.‍

The new center will not include on-site parking. Instead, we are exploring off-site parking options, such as leasing nearby spaces or partnering for joint development opportunities.Key considerations:Most daily attendees are UT Austin students within walking distance of the mosque.Many university students, especially freshmen and international students, do not bring cars.During Ramadan, we are able to serve over 500 daily attendees, with only a few parking spots availableUnderground parking is prohibitively expensive, costing approximately $3M to $4M for two floors.Austin’s West Campus is undergoing a mobility transformation, emphasizing pedestrian-friendly infrastructure and reducing on-site parking requirements.‍

Yes, we are accepting major gift pledges now. However, we need to collect an additional $4M by Ramadan 2025 to mobilize construction. All funds for this project are kept in a separate, secure account, strictly designated for reconstruction. Current masjid operational funds are managed separately.‍

Yes. Nueces Mosque is a registered non-profit and eligible for many company matching programs. Please consult your HR department for details.Benevity users can check eligibility online for companies like Google, Apple, Visa, Intel, Microsoft, and Dell.‍