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Arts Complex & Central Plant - -
Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas
  • Architect
    Kirksey
  • Project Completion
    2019
  • Project Budget
    $27,500,000 for Arts Complex &
    $7,500,000 for Central Plant

Completed in 2019, the Sam Houston State University Visual Arts Complex is a 71,000 SF facility designed to centralize the university’s art programs into a modern, innovative space. The complex features:

  • Instructional spaces, computer labs, and art studios to foster student learning and creativity.
  • Exhibition galleries and faculty offices that enhance academic engagement.
  • Outdoor kilns, welding stations, a foundry, a casting pit, a gas forge, a wood shop, and a metal shop, ensuring comprehensive hands-on learning opportunities.
  • Specialized air quality systems, designed in collaboration with an Industrial Hygienist, using displacement air supply and exhaust to remove all paint and solvent odors, creating a safer workspace.

In addition to the Visual Arts Complex, the project included a major expansion of the East Central Plant, enhancing the campus’s energy infrastructure. This expansion provided chilled water and upgraded electrical service to the new arts complex and future buildings. The central plant upgrades included:

  • A new 1,800-ton water-cooled chiller for increased cooling capacity.
  • A new 1,800-ton stainless steel cooling tower to enhance system efficiency.
  • Chilled water and condenser water pumps to ensure optimal performance.

Designed by Kirksey, the $27.5M Arts Complex and $7.5M Central Plant Expansion provide a cutting-edge creative environment while supporting future campus growth and sustainability.

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