“Art” is a small word with a large, multifaceted definition far exceeding its character length. While many people may define art as that which is on display at a local gallery, art can actually be found, in one way or another, across just about any discipline imaginable. It makes sense, then, that Rice University’s new Moody Center for the Arts is conceived as a multi-disciplinary lab that will contain “an experimental platform for creating and presenting works in all disciplines,” ArchDaily reports.
The 50,000-sf building will be located in the new arts district of the campus along with the Shepherd School of Music and James Turrell’s Twilight Epiphany Skyspace. The structure will be composed of an art gallery space, a 150-seat black box theater, an experimental performance space, and a café. A natural-light-filled atrium, which contains a maker lab and immediate access to a wood shop, metal shop, paint booth, rapid prototyping areas, classrooms, a technology library, and AV editing booths, is envisioned as an interior campus quad.
The building’s exterior will feature a brick-clad upper story with cantilevers that create covered walkways below. The floor-to-ceiling glass-encased entry level will provide a strong juxtaposition to the second level’s brick exterior.
A new artist-in-residence program will also be housed in the Moody, with Mona Hatoum set to be the first resident beginning in spring 2017, just a few months after the building is scheduled to open to the public on February 24, 2017.
Currently under construction, the Moody is funded by a $20 million grant from the Moody Foundation, a charitable organization with an emphasis on education, social services, children’s needs and community development. Among others, the Brown Foundation is also providing funding.
Rendering courtesy of Michael Maltzan Architecture, Inc. via ArchDaily
Rendering courtesy of Michael Maltzan Architecture, Inc. via ArchDaily
Photo courtesy of Michael Maltzan Architecture, Inc. via ArchDaily
Rendering courtesy of Michael Maltzan Architecture, Inc. via ArchDaily
Related Stories
Healthcare Facilities | Apr 16, 2024
Mexico’s ‘premier private academic health center’ under design
The design and construction contract for what is envisioned to be “the premier private academic health center in Mexico and Latin America” was recently awarded to The Beck Group. The TecSalud Health Sciences Campus will be located at Tec De Monterrey’s flagship healthcare facility, Zambrano Hellion Hospital, in Monterrey, Mexico.
University Buildings | Apr 10, 2024
Columbia University to begin construction on New York City’s first all-electric academic research building
Columbia University will soon begin construction on New York City’s first all-electric academic research building. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), the 80,700-sf building for the university’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons will provide eight floors of biomedical research and lab facilities as well as symposium and community engagement spaces.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Apr 2, 2024
How university rec centers are evolving to support wellbeing
In a LinkedIn Live, Recreation & Wellbeing’s Sadat Khan and Abby Diehl joined HOK architect Emily Ostertag to discuss the growing trend to design and program rec centers to support mental wellbeing and holistic health.
Student Housing | Feb 21, 2024
Student housing preleasing continues to grow at record pace
Student housing preleasing continues to be robust even as rent growth has decelerated, according to the latest Yardi Matrix National Student Housing Report.
University Buildings | Feb 21, 2024
University design to help meet the demand for health professionals
Virginia Commonwealth University is a Page client, and the Dean of the College of Health Professions took time to talk about a pressing healthcare industry need that schools—and architects—can help address.
Higher Education | Feb 9, 2024
Disability and architecture: ADA and universal design at college campuses
To help people with disabilities feel part of the campus community, higher education institutions and architects must strive to create settings that not only adhere to but also exceed ADA guidelines.
Laboratories | Jan 25, 2024
Tactical issues for renovating university research buildings
Matthew Plecity, AIA, ASLA, Principal, GBBN, highlights the connection between the built environment and laboratory research, and weighs the benefits of renovation vs. new construction.
University Buildings | Jan 18, 2024
Houston’s Rice University opens the largest research facility on its core campus
Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the 251,400-sf building provides students and researchers with state-of-the-art laboratories, classrooms, offices, and a cafe, in addition to multiple gathering spaces.
Sponsored | BD+C University Course | Jan 17, 2024
Waterproofing deep foundations for new construction
This continuing education course, by Walter P Moore's Amos Chan, P.E., BECxP, CxA+BE, covers design considerations for below-grade waterproofing for new construction, the types of below-grade systems available, and specific concerns associated with waterproofing deep foundations.
University Buildings | Jan 15, 2024
The death of single-use university buildings
As institutions aim to improve the lives of their students and the spaces they inhabit, flexible university buildings may provide an all-in-one solution.
