Third Year Architecture Students Travel to Texas

Third year Architecture student Lauren Lambert writes:

"Over spring break, our Architecture class took a trip to Texas to see museums, buildings, and apartments done by talented and world renowned architects. Our first stop was Orange, Texas. We saw Shangri La Gardens which was done by the firm, Lake Flato.  In Houston, we saw The Menil, the Museum of Fine Arts by Mies van der Rohe, Rice University, plus several other buildings.  We also visited the two firms PDR and Kirksey. In Dallas we saw the Nasher Museum by Renzo Piano, Morton Meyerson Symphony Hall by I.M. Pei, Winspear Opera House by Norman Foster, the Wyly Theater by Rem Koolhaas, South Side Apartments, and many other amazing places.  In Fort Worth, we visited the Kimbell Museum by Louis Kahn and the Renzo addition, The Contemporary Arts Museum by Tadao Ando, several mixed use developments, and the Water Gardens by Philip Johnson.

     I learned so many valuable things from this trip. For example, how Renzo Piano used shading on the roof to allow natural light into the museum, and after visiting South Side I saw how to repurpose an old warehouse. I found it interesting how one could design an apartment with limited square footage into a very comfortable and functional living space. Our final destination was a park in Dallas. This was a unique park because it was built above the interstate. The park was a great way to provide the community with a beautiful facility in a space that was otherwise unattractive. This trip was an enjoyable learning experience and very inspirational. I am already wishing I could be back in Texas."