The Art Institute of Houston made its move official yesterday as classes began at its new River Oaks Plaza facility. The new location houses 11 computer labs with more than 300 workstations, a new audio studio, a video production studio and a library with more than 24,800 separately cataloged items, 2,850 multimedia titles and access to five electronic databases. In addition, the International Culinary School has five kitchens, and the school's restaurant, Courses, will open at the end of July.
According to a release, the new facility at 4140 Southwest Freeway accommodates the growing student population as well as meets the requirements of certain degree programs. Over the past five years, the student population at the Art Institute has grown by 50 percent to 2300. It was previously located at 1900 Yorktown.
The Art Institute was originally founded in 1965 as the Houston School of Commercial Art. It joined the Art Institute system of schools in 1978.