Covered arcade

Located at the core campus of Rice University, the new Ralph S. O'Connor Building for Engineering and Science by SOM is now open. Designed to blend with the campus' historic Mediterranean Revival architecture, the building features brick, limestone, and an arcade complete with an elaborate brick and cast-stone veil. SOM Design Principal Javier Arizmendi explains that the design balances historical and contemporary materials, leverages existing circulation pathways, and provides an energetic social and scientific activity hub for the next generation of scholars and innovators.  Dave Burk With a total area of 250,000 square feet, the interdisciplinary building offers state-of-the-art laboratories, classrooms, offices, a caf&eac... More