Prairie View A&M University, Austin Greaux Engineering Building

Under the Chancellor’s Research Initiative for the university, the Austin Greaux Engineering Building has converted the two floors of an abandoned Brutalist-design chemical engineering teaching facility to an incubator multipurpose research laboratory. Interior design and systems/envelope upgrades enable the facility to redefine grant-based research for the next generation by delivering highly adaptive, interdisciplinary lab environments.

Countering the heavy institutional feel of the existing concrete building shell, the design incorporates bold color that activates the spaces in laboratories, stairways and lobbies. Lab utilities and services are exposed for an open industrial aesthetic. Daylighting is drawn inside to maximize limited existing openings. At the lobby, integrated ceiling and linear lighting introduce the technology-rich building interior. Energy consumption and HVAC load are reduced through passive design and enhanced insulation.

The design supports researcher expectations for dynamic, real-world scenarios and fosters pride of ownership. The shared research facility exemplifies the collaborative environment in interconnected office and lab areas. Thirty-five years after the building’s construction, the upgrades respect and honor the past, yet embrace the evolution of contemporary laboratory needs.

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