American architecture studio Kwong Von Glinow has carried out a renovation of several areas within the architecture school at Rice University, introducing three new spaces through what it describes as a “programmatic re-invention” of the 1947 building located in Houston, Texas, USA.
The renovation, which covers 3,775 square feet (350 square metres), was completed inside MD Anderson Hall. This building was originally designed by Staub and Rather in 1947 and later expanded in 1981 by James Stirling and Michael Wilford.
The project took place alongside the addition of a new sawtooth-roofed extension by Karamuk Kuo, constructed adjacent to the existing structure.
Based in Chicago, Kwong Von Glinow began the design by delving into the building’s history. During this process, they found a note from architect Philip Johnson stating he “couldn’t find” the Stirling and Wilford addition.
“This idea of ‘finding’ space became central to our design strategy,” the studio explained. As they studied the building, they discovered a trapezoidal area within the Farish Gallery, defined by exposed columns and beams that marked the meeting point of the 1947 and 1981 structures.
“For the renovation and re-imagining of these three spaces, our approach was to reveal and highlight the rich historical context of the building by both acknowledging and enhancing the specific characteristics of the site,” the studio said.
Kwong Von Glinow positioned the new welcome centre, a student and community forum, and a faculty and staff lounge along the building’s central axis, next to the Farish Gallery.
“In each of these three areas, we employed forms that respond to and reference the original building, creating distinct spatial experiences rather than simply using walls to separate the spaces,” they added.
The welcome centre, located in the southeast corner of the building, features large glazed openings that replaced a previous brick wall, offering views to the adjacent quad. Four offices with curved internal glass walls provide transparency into the activities of the school.
A mirrored column draws inspiration from the building’s distinctive west facade and creates a visual counterpoint to the solid, monolithic welcome desk.
Situated directly above the welcome centre, the new forum links MD Anderson Hall with Karamuk Kuo’s Cannady Hall via an accessible ramp.
The forum features two tiers of circular seating, forming a communal gathering area. The use of piers and wood textures references the diagonal wall and helps to define smaller breakout zones within the larger multipurpose space.
The lounge area is defined by a striking Corian reception desk that signifies the entrance to the dean’s office.
“A three-sided, wedge-shaped volume separates private and public areas within the lounge, creating a distinct boundary between the reception and the faculty and staff amenity spaces, which include a kitchenette, seating area, and an ADA-compliant bathroom,” the studio explained.
“The Wedge is designed so that its west face is angled, allowing natural light to reach the previously windowless rear section of the lounge.”
Other recent works by Kwong Von Glinow include the renovation of the Swiss consulate in Chicago’s John Hancock Center, completed in collaboration with Swiss firm HFF, as well as a design proposal for a vertical housing complex featuring multi-level units that form towers within a tower structure.
Photography by Mikael Olsson.
Project credits:
Design architect: Kwong Von Glinow
Architect of record: Sharp Architecture
Structural engineer: National Structural Engineering, Inc.
MEP
