West Texas A&M University, Harrington Academic Hall

Amarillo, Texas

Firm

Sims + Architects

Client

West Texas A&M University

Area

108,442 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$18,937,065

Completion Date

11/2019

Carol Wilson

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Design Team
John Jenkins, Will Holton, Mike Boyett

West Texas A&M University Harrington Academic Hall was designed to serve 800 undergraduate and postgraduate students in downtown Amarillo. The building was constructed as a department store in 1952 and renovated into a multitenant office building in 1978. The aging and dated building was re-imagined as an academic facility that reflects the university’s desire to become an urban educational center in downtown Amarillo. The exterior design incorporates new brick, stone and fenestration to match West Texas A&M University standards. The design details in the stonework and arches are reminiscent of the original administration building on the main WTAMU campus.

The initial programs featured in the facility include The Center for Learning Disabilities, The Social Work Graduate Program, Licensed Professional Counseling, Psychology, Special Education, Communication Disorders, and the Speech and Hearing Clinic. A central atrium and skylight introduce light from the third floor to the basement and highlight an ornamental stair tying the floors together. Spaces around the stairs are furnished as student interaction areas for collaborative study. The repurposed WTAMU Harrington Academic Hall is a modern facility that will serve many future generations of students.