Education Complex
The UTPA College of Education hosts the largest bilingual teacher training program in the U.S., and had overgrown its existing 2-story building complex. This project provided 79,500 GSF of new construction in addition to renovating the existing 45,000 GSF and contains a range of general, distance learning, multipurpose, and demonstration classrooms; a 200-seat tiered lecture hall; and faculty and administrative offices.
Specialized spaces include two K-5 simulation classrooms with adjoining observation classrooms; the community-based Counseling and Assessment Prep Center with diagnostics labs and control room; an advanced undergraduate Technology-Teaching-Learning-Research area; and the project-driven Center for Applied Research in Education.
The plan creates a courtyard central for the entire college, which is overlooked by the circulation gallerias and main lobby. The 3-story lobby contains a dramatic third floor study space, has an open stair, and a glass-enclosed elevator whose transparent surfaces are bilingually etched to form a kinetic reference to bicultural communication.
Merit Award – AIA Lower Rio Grande Valley Design Awards 2009
Merit Award – AIA San Antonio Design Awards 2008
Location:
Edinburg, Texas
Relationship with Owner
Since 1960
Preliminary Construction Cost
$16, 000,000
Final Construction Cost
$16,200,000
Project Size
124,500 GSF
Construction Type
New and Renovation
Contract Delivery
CMAR
Design Start – Finish
April 2002 – Dec 2002
Construction Notice to Proceed
March 2003
Substantial Completion
September 2005
Description of Services
Full service architectural and interior desig-n services
Project Manager/Architect
James G. Sterner, AIA
Project Designer
Steven Land Tillotson, AIA
CONSULTANTS
Structural: Lundy & Franke Engineering
MEP: HMG & Associates
Civil: Perez Consulting Engineers
Landscape: Halff Associates
Telecom: DataCom Design Group
Cost Estimating: Busby & Associates
