Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center

PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY FABRICATION CENTER

Kirksey Architecture

Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
© Joe Aker

CIVIL ENGINEER
Walter P. Moore

CONTRACTOR
Spawglass

PHOTOGRAPHS
Joe Aker

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Walter P. Moore

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Clark Condon Associates

MANUFACTURERS
Autodesk, Acme Brick, Assa Abloy, Berridge, Centria, Construction Specialties, Daltile, Gaf, Mecho Systems, Overhead Door, Ppg Paints, Tectum, Viracon, Architectural Safety Components, Axis Lighting, Homosote, Keystone Millwork, Lauren Concrete, Roppe, Stonhard, +2

PROJECT DESIGNER
Michelle Giuseppetti Old , Gary Machicek, Brian Richard, Brian Lemmon

AREA
24091 M²

CATEGORY
Higher Education

LOCATION
Prairie View, United States

YEAR
2019

Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
© Joe Aker
Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
© Joe Aker

Text description provided by the architects.

The Fabrication Center at Prairie View A&M University is an extension of the existing School of Architecture. Located in Prairie View, Texas this new program is a state-of-art facility that serves its students with the latest technology.

As one of the seven HBUC (Historic Black Colleges and Universities) with an accredited architecture program, this new innovative maker space houses a variety of high-tech equipment allowing architectural students to build, develop, and test new ideas.

Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
© Joe Aker
Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
© Joe Aker
Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
© Joe Aker

While different concepts influenced the design of the existing School of Architecture building, the new facility responds and further evolves those ideas.

This new architecture looks to the prairie. The Prairie View A&M Fabrication Center is conceived as an elevated plane that references the “prairie”.

This plane hovers over the exterior brick walls allowing light to filter into the space. The brick exterior walls reference the extrusion of the plane by revealing the earth’s strata. T

Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
© Joe Aker
Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
© Joe Aker

he entrance, deeply recessed, create a covered outdoor gathering space, while the landscape embraces the building thus creating uncovered gathering space.

The building is divided programmatically into three areas; shops, assembly, and digital fabrication. As the visitor moves through the space, light monitors and clerestory windows offer illumination and connection to the sky.

Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
© Joe Aker
Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
© Joe Aker

The program is composed of several different types of maker spaces that instead of being individual spaces, have a communal assembly area where students can use a variety of equipment on one project.

The Assembly area is divided into two areas: digital and shop assembly. Both are connected by a large garage door. This central area also represents a gathering space where students can make, experiment, and learn from each other as they use the facility.

Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
© Joe Aker
Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
© Joe Aker

Developed as an inverted porch, the Assembly area has V columns that march the entirety of the space resembling the existing School of Architecture’s porch.

The prairie is depicted by filtering light into the space as well as having a digitized stratum that makes the tectonic material delicate. The exterior looks to have an elevated faceted ‘prairie’ roof that is hovering over the brick façade.

Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
© Joe Aker
Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
© Joe Aker

Glass separates both and lowers to highlight different equipment pieces in the shops. The stacked brick facade expresses a digital aspect with its four extruded patterns that repeat randomly creating a dynamic facade.

Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
© Joe Aker


Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
© Joe Aker
Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
© Joe Aker
Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
© Joe Aker
Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
© Joe Aker
Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
© Joe Aker
Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
© Joe Aker


Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
Plan - Site
Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
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Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
Elevation - South
Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
Elevation - West
Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
Elevation - North
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Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
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Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
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Prairie View A&M University Fabrication Center
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