University of Houston
AC-5: Immersive Experience

The Graduate Design/Build Studio designs and constructs for regional non-profit organizations site specific solutions to climate-influenced building problems. Master of Architecture students are offered the opportunity to see their ideas evolve from initial conception to completed construction. The studio demonstrates the full-scale implications of the students’ aspirations and measures the quality of their design thinking against the rigorous standard of built reality. Each project creates an opportunity for close and direct interaction with a client group, resulting in a more personal and immediate view of the architect’s impact on creating local community. Mission of the Graduate Design-Build Studios The UH Graduate Design-Build Studio designs and constructs for area non-profit organizations site-specific solutions to climate-influenced building problems. By offering Master of Architecture students the opportunity to see their ideas evolve from initial conception to completed construction, the studio demonstrates at full scale the implications of the students’ aspirations and measures the quality of their thinking against the rigorous standard of built reality. Past projects emphasized solar power integration into designs, sustainable energy use, and smart climate control systems.