In a striking architectural debut on American soil, Swiss studio Karamuk Kuo has unveiled a captivating new extension to the Rice School of Architecture in Houston, Texas. Named the William T. Cannady Hall for Architecture, this 22,000-square-foot addition challenges conventional forms with its “jagged” and “slipping and sliding” linear volumes, seamlessly integrating with the existing MD Anderson Hall and Rice University’s historic, brick-lined quadrangle. The project, led by architects Jeannette Kuo and Ünal Karamuk, masterfully balances a highly contemporary aesthetic with a deep respect for context, preserving an iconic live oak tree while fostering a dynamic environment for architectural production, research, and exhibition. It’s a testament to thoughtful site integration, innovative material use—featuring facades of glass and terracotta—and an exposed, adaptable interior designed to inspire the next generation of architectural minds, creating a vibrant “campus within a campus” for Rice University.
A Sensitive Dialogue with a Storied Campus
The William T. Cannady Hall for Architecture marks a significant moment for both Rice University and the Swiss firm Karamuk Kuo, being their first completed project in the United States. Situated prominently on the Rice University campus in Houston, the new addition is strategically placed along its historic quadrangle, an area traditionally ringed by distinguished brick buildings. This context presented a primary design challenge: how to introduce a contemporary structure that would not only provide cutting-edge facilities but also respectfully integrate with the established architectural legacy of the university, which includes original designs from 1947 by Staub & Rather and an 1980s update by renowned British architects James Stirling and Michael Willford.
Karamuk Kuo embraced this challenge by conceiving a two-storey addition that is both distinctly modern and deeply referential to its surroundings. The goal was to foster a space for “architectural production, research, and exhibition” that looked forward while acknowledging the past. The architects designed the new building to integrate with the existing MD Anderson Hall, which also underwent a significant renovation led by Chicago studio Kwong Von Glinow. This dual approach ensured a cohesive “campus within a campus,” where new and old elements work together to elevate the school’s mission. The success lies in its ability to contribute a bold new identity without overwhelming the historical character of the site.
An Irregular Plan Shaped by Nature and Function
The architectural form of the William T. Cannady Hall is defined by its highly irregular, “jagged” plan, a deliberate design response to the specific nuances of its site. Encompassing 22,000 square feet (2,044 square meters), the building steps gracefully around existing natural elements, most notably a mature live oak tree. This thoughtful gesture demonstrates Karamuk Kuo’s commitment to preserving the natural landscape and integrating it into the architectural narrative, rather than imposing a structure upon it. The design team noted that one of the primary challenges was integrating the hall while preserving this iconic tree, leading to the decision to break down the building into “linear forms that slip and slide,” creating a dynamic interplay between indoors and outdoors.
The structure’s innovative layout includes a unique connector portion that sits directly over an existing brick-and-stone arcade, partially supported by elegant metal pilotis. This elevated connection provides a seamless transition between the new and existing structures while respecting the historical ground plane. The remainder of the extension features a cantilevered upper level, creating a dramatic architectural gesture that provides both shelter and visual interest. An external stairway leads strategically to a courtyard, further blurring the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces and providing accessible outdoor areas for students and faculty. This irregular yet deliberate plan not only addresses site constraints but also enhances the building’s visual complexity and its relationship with its environment.
Materials and Transparency: A Contemporary Echo of History
Karamuk Kuo’s material palette for Cannady Hall is a sophisticated blend of contemporary finishes and historically resonant textures, carefully chosen to reflect Rice University’s material legacy while pushing the boundaries of sustainable architecture. The building’s facades are characterized by a thoughtful layering of materials. The ground level features expansive stretches of glass, maximizing natural light penetration and offering visual connectivity between the interior activities and the surrounding campus. This transparency on the lower level is balanced by a more substantial cladding on the upper portion of the building.
Here, the architects employed terracotta battens, a material choice that is both modern and deeply connected to Rice’s traditional brick architecture. The studio emphasized that this terracotta is “both contemporary and historically resonant, respecting Rice University’s material legacy while advancing sustainable architecture.” Unlike the solid masonry masses of older buildings on campus, Karamuk Kuo’s clay-toned geometric modules appear to “hover in midair,” creating a sense of lightness and progression. This rainscreen system of glazed terracotta panels, available in three different profiles and held in place by concealed clips, offers durability, requires minimal maintenance, and is a sustainable, biodegradable material. The building is further crowned with a distinctive sawtooth roof, a design choice that not only provides optimal natural light through north-facing clerestory windows but also “echoes the industrial vocabulary of fabrication spaces,” hinting at the creative and experimental activities housed within.
Interiors as Learning Tools: Exposed Systems and Collaborative Spaces
The interior of the William T. Cannady Hall is designed to be an integral part of the architectural education it supports, fostering an environment of transparency, collaboration, and hands-on learning. The spaces are characterized by their airy, light-filled qualities, with ample natural light flooding in from the extensive glazing and the sawtooth roof’s clerestories. This bright and open atmosphere is intended to inspire creativity and collaboration among students and faculty.
A key pedagogical choice was to leave the steel framework and building systems exposed throughout the interior. This deliberate decision transforms the building itself into a didactic tool, allowing students to observe and understand the inner workings of architectural construction and mechanical systems. Ducts, pipes, and the bolted steel frame are visible, promoting a transparent “physical experimentation” and stripping away any “preciousness” from the architecture. This exposed structure also underscores the building’s sustainable ethos, as its bolted frame allows for future disassembly and reuse, demonstrating a forward-thinking approach to material lifecycle. The ground level houses essential hands-on spaces, including a large fabrication shop that opens to an outdoor work terrace, a gallery, and pinup spaces for displaying work, along with various support areas. Upstairs, the layout features open work areas, a dedicated model shop, and additional exhibition space, all designed to facilitate project-based learning and interdisciplinary interaction. Double-height voids and interior glazed walls further enhance visual connectivity between the upper and lower levels, encouraging dialogue and a sense of shared community within the school.
A Campus Within a Campus: Elevating Architectural Education
The completion of Cannady Hall, alongside the concurrent renovation of MD Anderson Hall by Kwong Von Glinow, forms a truly cohesive “campus within a campus” at Rice University. This integrated expansion is meticulously positioned at the southwest corner of Rice’s historic academic quadrangle, reinforcing the School of Architecture’s mission to advance architectural discourse, foster planetary engagement, and build community through the practice of architecture. The new 22,000-square-foot facility is hailed as a dynamic space for fabrication, research, and exhibitions, embodying cutting-edge facilities with sustainable design principles.
The renovation of MD Anderson Hall has also breathed new life into the existing structure, adding spaces such as a new welcome center, a student and community forum with circular wooden seating, and a faculty and staff lounge, all designed to enhance collaboration and interaction. Jeannette Kuo, co-founder of Karamuk Kuo, expressed the intent for Cannady Hall’s new public gallery spaces to “invite people that maybe are not studying architecture but are curious about what an architecture program might mean to visit the gallery and see what’s going on,” significantly increasing the school’s visibility and engagement with the broader Rice campus and even the Houston community. This comprehensive update ensures that the Rice School of Architecture is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities that not only support its evolving curriculum but also serve as a catalyst for innovation, ultimately empowering future generations of architects to make their mark on society.
