South Texas College of Law, Fred Parks Law Library

Houston, Texas

Firm

Gensler

Client

South Texas College of Law

Area

97,000 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$9,000,000

Completion Date

04/2001

The Fred Parks Law Library is a six-story, 72,000-square-foot addition to the South Texas College of Law campus in downtown Houston. The project included designing the new library and conference center, as well as renovating 25,000 square feet of existing space.
The school sought a bold new image with street presence. The new library building has put the college on the downtown map by opening it up to the surrounding cityscape. The design team conceived a contemporary, open environment with all of the technological amenities of a 21st-century library. The building’s articulated facade echoes aspects of the existing campus while creating a striking visual transition through the introduction of floor-to-ceiling glass and an aluminum curtainwall system on the east and south facades. This gives the building a transparency that introduces natural light into the interiors and creates a lantern-like nighttime presence.
The curved roof gives the building a distinct silhouette, provides greater ceiling heights in the sixth-floor conference facility and conceals mechanical equipment. The sixth floor is set back to create a large rooftop terrace featuring abundant landscaping, benches, water features and 270-degree views of downtown Houston’s ballpark, convention complex and arena.