Lab Design News recently recognized the SOM-designed Ralph S. O’Connor Building for Engineering and Science at Rice University with the Excellence in Whole Building/Holistic Design award.
As part of its annual Design Excellence Awards, Lab Design News honors achievements in research laboratory design, planning, and construction. A panel of industry leaders—consisting of laboratory architects, engineers, construction professionals, and editorial staff from Lab Design—analyzes each entry for its approach to lab design.
At 250,000 square feet, the Ralph S. O’Connor Building for Engineering and Science is the largest research facility in Rice University’s historic core campus, providing users with technology-rich facilities that embody the University’s goal to stay at the forefront of scientific discovery.
Passive and active design strategies reduce the building’s carbon footprint and promote a healthy environment. The design reduces energy demand by maximizing daylight while limiting solar heat gain through a solar-responsive enclosure. The building is composed of a series of angled pilasters and vertical brick fins that strategically allow an appropriate amount of daylight to enter the perimeter offices and penetrate further into the lab fronts. In addition, a series of skylights above the arcade redirects and softens the strong Texas sun. Thanks to these passive design strategies and an energy efficient HVAC and lighting system, the laboratories use less than 50 percent energy than a comparable research space.
The project teams will be honored on May 20 during the Lab Design Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.
