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UHD College of Sciences and Technology from Kirksey Architecture on Vimeo.
The University of Houston-Downtown Sciences and Technology Building inspires science by providing moments of discovery in different scales. With high visibility located along Interstate 10 and across from one of Houston’s most familiar bayous, the urban downtown campus becomes a “city window” and integrates itself into the surrounding natural landscape. Housing different sciences, the building features opportunities for cross-pollination in both chemistry and biology studies, as well moments of discovery throughout corridors and the atrium. Walking trails and a porch area with views of the bayou provide a connection to nature. With more than 60,000 sf of chemistry and biology laboratory spaces, the building houses support staff and administration office space, huddle rooms, collaboration areas, a cafe, maker space, and a gathering/common area. The building was designed to make scientific principles visible and simultaneously showcase its sustainability — one way of doing this was to reveal building systems in action: exposed utilities, as well as revealing the concrete structure itself.
The new UHD Sciences and Technology Building not only fosters teaching in laboratories, but serves as a destination of discovery unto itself and promote more STEM initiatives for Houston.