With its growing student population, Texas Tech envisioned a new hall to address the large number of freshman honor students that enroll in the university each year. The site, located just northwest of the campus heart, was chosen to connect the freshman students to the more extensive residential community in this section of campus. The university engaged Whiting-Turner Construction, Barnes Gromatzky Kosarek Architects, and Mackey Mitchell Architects to turn their vision into a reality. The new "Honors Hall" is a four-story, 81,500 sf residence hall that houses 313 students in a pod-style configuration of double and single bedroom units. The living/learning focused building also contains a Starbucks, a 50-person classroom and several lounges and social areas to encourage interaction and connection with classmates.
Shape
The university and design team explored numerous options to address the university's desire for a residence hall that would promote social interaction and academic excellence. The conclusion of the design effort was to provide a pod-style building arranged in 14-18 bed living/learning groups. Each group, or pod, would be made up of 6-8 double or single units, shared restrooms, and a dedicated lounge. The pod arrangement, which allows students to engage socially at whatever level they feel comfortable, also serves as a hub for group study.
Inspire
Texas Tech University is a beautiful campus that has a distinct Spanish Renaissance architectural language. Honors Hall picks up on that language and reinterprets it in a modern way by utilizing cast stone elements, brown and yellow brick blends unique to campus, and clay tile roofs. The incorporation of insulated concrete forms for the exterior wall construction allowed for a very stout, well insulated outer skin that helps reduce outside noise and helps reinforce the academic nature of this residence hall. With the focus of the design on both social interaction and academic excellence, this building will serve as a foundational living experience for the honors students who call it home.
This project solution embodies the spirit of our campus by creating a pedestrian-centric park space surrounded by an aesthetic backdrop of Spanish Renaissance detailing.
- Michael Molina Vice Chancellor of Facilities Planning and Construction