2009 AIA Firm of the Year
Oshman Engineering Facility | Houston, Texas
Prior to renovation
Built in 1964 as Rice’s central kitchen, this elegant modernist brick box had become neglected and was used only for storage and office space. The undergraduate engineering department identified the building as potentially appropriate for a multi-disciplinary laboratory. The rehabilitation removed wall partitions to expose the concrete structure of the 13-foot high space, creating a factory-like environment perfect for a laboratory that encourages student interaction. A 2,000 square-foot classroom addition next to the loading dock completes the building’s new program. The single continuous window boldly projects along one side of the building, bringing daylight inside and exposing the workings of the lab to students passing by outside. The renovated structure achieved a LEED Gold rating.
- Adaptive Reuse
- LEED Gold
- Green Roof
- Honor Award, Renovation/Restoration, Houston Chapter AIA, 2009
