For nearly sixty years, the students of the University of Texas had lobbied for a new student center. They wanted a hub for the social and extracurricular activity that would ultimately shape so much of their college experience. Now, they have one—a student center fundamentally built for and by the students.
Because the Student Activity Center (SAC) was funded by student fees and intended for student use, Overland approached these students as clients. Thousands participated in the design process, giving the Longhorns a sense of ownership in a building intended to be their commons. A place of their own.
Sited along a high-traffic footpath, the SAC needed to balance ideals and practicality. No one wanted to lose their direct route to class. Inside, the space needed to offer prospect and refuge. It needed to provide places conducive to meeting up but equally offer plenty of opportunity for privacy.
The Student Activity Center brought a sense of empowerment to our students. From the inception of the idea to the reality of the opening, students played a key role in what the building would be and what role it would play on our campus.
When the students’ budget ran short of their design ambitions, Overland offered a solution that makes the most of the temperate Austin climate. Courtyards, rooftop terraces, and other outdoor spaces further contribute to the conversation the building has with the surrounding campus, while conditioned exhaust air vented extends the seasons that these spaces are able to occupied. “Buildings are not just destinations, they should be an active part of our daily lives,” said Principal in Charge, Rick Archer.
University of Texas students are known for their environmental and global sensibilities, and the SAC sought to reflect that in its design. The Turrell Skyspace atop the building provides meditative quiet for students and visitors. Overland incorporated a green roof, water catchment system, and other efficiency measures to complement the mature oaks and ample sunlight connecting the students indoors to the world outside.
Around 15,000 students per day flow through the SAC. It works as a thoroughfare between the east and west sides of the campus where students can simply pass through, or sit and stay a while. Addressing more than just the flow of students, the SAC also represents a sense of connectivity and movement among the campus buildings. Limestone and terracotta fit the university’s architectural vernacular, while distinctive modern design establishes its moment in history. It balances the need for timelessness and integration with the historic campus while being open, transparent and welcoming. But most importantly, it serves as a place to see and be seen, a place for meeting, and a place for building community.
- AIA San Antonio Design Citation Award 2012
- AIA Pittsburgh Architecture Award 2012
- Golden Trowel Award Outstanding Masonry Design 2012
- ACUI Facility Design Awards Award of Excellence 2012
- Associated Builders & Contractors Central Texas Excellence in Construction 2011
- Interiors and Sources, “University of Texas Student Activity Center,” October 2013
- Texas Architect Magazine, “University of Texas Student Activity Center,” November/December 2012
- Building Design and Construction, “After 60 years of student lobbying, new activity center opens at University of Texas,” March 2011
- The Daily Texan, “Student Activity Center opens for business,” January 2011
