Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

University of Houston Building Wins 2014 PCI Design Award

  • 11/07/14

CHICAGO — The University of Houston Health and Biomedical Sciences Building 1 was named “Best Higher Education Building” by The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) in the Institute’s 2014 PCI Design Awards.

The award celebrates the distinctive beveled façade of the clinical, research, and teaching facility for this Carnegie Tier 1 research institution and the smart design thinking behind it. Catching the sun as it plays across the building’s surface, the undulating precast concrete façade system is an innovative, high-value design solution that responds to challenges dictated by topography, program, and budget.  

The design response uses simple rectangular concrete panels that are triangularly faceted, creating peaks and valleys in the façade’s surface. Shadow and light dance across the windowless expanses in a series of patterns that shift with the passing of time and seasons.

Shepley Bulfinch of Boston was the design architect for the project, in association with Bailey Architects of Houston. They two firms are now partnering on the University of Houston’s Health and Biomedical Sciences Building 2 project, which is scheduled to break ground in 2015.

Now in their 52nd year, the PCI Design Awards recognize excellence in the design, fabrication, and construction of precast structures and systems.

Featured

  • Building Beyond Simulation: Creating Immersive Ecosystems for Healthcare Education

    Health sciences education is one of the fastest-growing facility types in colleges and universities. The demand for medical, nursing, and allied health professionals is driving the creation and renovation of medical simulation training facilities that provide students with real-world experience through advanced simulation-based learning.

  • Q&A: How to Prevent Kitchen Grease Fires in Commercial Kitchens

    School cafeterias and university dining halls serve thousands of meals daily, relying on high-heat equipment like fryers, grills, and ovens. While these operations keep students fed, they also generate significant grease-laden vapors. Without proper controls, this grease becomes a silent fire threat. As a certified exhaust cleaning specialist and business coach who has helped hundreds of institutional facilities achieve NFPA 96 compliance, I emphasize that proactive grease management isn’t optional; it’s a core fire/life safety practice.

  • Washington State University Debuts New Engineering Hall

    Washington State University recently celebrated a dedication ceremony for the new Schweitzer Engineering Hall on its Pullman campus in Pullman, Wash., according to university news. The facility measures 66,288 square feet, and its completion marks the first milestone in a larger university effort to modernize the engineering and design district.

  • Back-to-School Playground Safety: 7 Common Hazards to Look for After Summer Break

    As summer break comes to an end, school administrators have plenty to prepare before students return. While classrooms, hallways and common areas often receive attention during all the back-to-school preparations, the playground should not be overlooked. Months of weather exposure, storms, and regular wear can leave behind hazards that may not be immediately noticeable.