Here’s a peek from Colquitt St. at the early stages of the new science and healthcare center shooting up where the University of St. Thomas’s athletics fields used to be. Construction kicked off back in November, and at least part of the complex is expected to be ready for action some time in 2017. First off the line in Phase I should be the nursing school, along with the biology and chemistry departments.
No signs yet on the site of the winding astronomy tower that appears to be floating up through a hole in the trellis canopy enclosing the complex’s central courtyard, in the renderings from EYP. The planned tower would send students spiraling up above the center’s roof to an astronomy observation deck. The glassy base of the structure is shown hovering above a water feature:
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The tower is seen rising above the complex’s green roof, complete with greenhouse (to the left of the observation deck, in the rendering below):
But here’s what things look like for the time being, from the corner of Colquitt and Yoakum Blvd.:
- University of St. Thomas breaks ground on new Center for Science and Health Professions [HBJ]
- Previously on Swamplot: Here’s the New Science Quad Building the University of St. Thomas Is Itching To Get Going On
Images: Alex Steffler (photos), EYP (renderings)
Just have to comment on this: hooray that they are keeping lock-in-step with the same design and style as the rest of the campus. Yet it’s upbeat.
Wake me up when you’ve got a picture of the big steel wiener poking through the big steel structure surrounded by furry oaks.
Why are they doing this to Philip Johnson? UGH
Very cool. Nice to see UST grow.
How quaint to have an astronomy deck in such a massively light-polluted environment. Great party venue, though.
An astronomy deck? In the middle of Houston?
Great addition to the school and neighborhood! The design of the building is great and I like how the astronomy tower is concealed within and pops up the middle. I look forward to visiting! Good stuff going on in this part of town with St Thomas and the Menil.
The rendering at the job site looks nothing like these renderings above. I am going to guess they made lots of changes.