The facade of the new engineering and science building at Rice University seamlessly blends with the campus’s historical architecture, characterized by its Mediterranean Revival style.
Spanning 23,226 m2 (250,000 sf), the Ralph S. O’Connor Building for Engineering and Science (O’Connor) stands as the largest research facility in Rice University’s core campus, replacing the Abercrombie Engineering Lab. It is designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), in collaboration with Scientia Architects, alongside other project collaborators including IMEG, Walter P. Moore, Wylie Engineering, and OJB Landscape Architecture.
Employing light brick facades, archways, and decorative columns, O’Connor’s facade features a composition of brick and punched windows, accentuated by angled brick pilasters and fins. A delicate brick and stone screen along the length of the portico on the western edge provides shade through a rhythmic arrangement of alternating bands, allowing filtered light for thermal and visual comfort.
The structure features a cantilevered sculptural stair at the main entrance, framed by brick walls and shaded glass, creating a distinctive campus landmark harmonizing with Maxfield Hall’s adjacent tower.
The central atrium, a five-story open space, serves as a collaborative hub, connecting seminar rooms, break areas, and informal gathering spaces. A transparent glass facade at the ground level of the atrium showcases activities to the broader campus.
Passive and active design methods minimize the building’s carbon footprint and foster a healthy environment by optimizing daylight, controlling solar heat gain, and utilizing efficient HVAC and lighting systems. The structure features angled pilasters and vertical brick fins that strategically permit adequate daylight into offices and labs. Skylights above the arcade redirect and diffuse the intense Texas sun.
These strategies allow the laboratories to consume less than half the energy of a comparable research space. The facility has earned LEED’s Building Design and Construction (BD + C) certification at silver level in new construction.
