CLIENT
Houston Community College System

BUILDING AREA
57,000 SF

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
To serve the needs of the Houston business community and provide training for high skill and high growth trades, Houston Community College (HCC) opened a new 57,000 SF, state-of-the-art workforce training facility on the HCC Stafford Campus. The new building houses classes in advanced manufacturing, robotics, pipe-fitting and welding including laboratories, technology-rich classrooms and administrative offices.

The design reflects the industrial nature of this technical training in form and materiality. Significant design considerations include collaborative learning spaces and generous amounts of natural lighting to aid student performance. The facility features flexible classroom spaces including outdoor covered labs with active ventilation and a moderated microclimate.

Sustainable design strategies integrate the existing campus and respond to elements of the site, including the use of bioswales to provide visual interest in the landscape and to clean site runoff before it is discharged into the city storm-water system.

RDLR was the architect of record and the design architect. This project was in association with Kirksey Architecture.