To fit large state-of-the-art teaching laboratories into a Georgian-style landmark is a challenge. Fondren Science Building was built in 1950 and is the second most recognizable landmark on Southern Methodist University’s campus after the school’s main administrative building. On the 2nd and 3rd floors, we designed chemistry intro labs, chemistry advanced labs and biology teaching labs. On the first floor, we converted smaller classrooms into two large seminar classrooms, slightly enlarged the central stairway hall, and reconfigured several faculty offices.

In most interior spaces, we followed with original style scheme of white tiles, copper plumbing finishes, and bronze railing, to maintain the historical building flavor. We placed all over a dozen Strobic air exhaust stacks on the flat roof behind the sloped slate roof, hidden from view at all sides.

We faced an even bigger challenge during the construction stage. Construction started in the summer when classes are reduced, however, when the fall semester rolls around, construction is in still full swing on both interior and exterior work. To allow safe and undisturbed construction to proceed on schedule and budget, we chopped up construction work into smaller chunks and started some work during off-hours and weekends. The result was successful and the school was happy with the overall renovation when it was delivered.

Project Credit: Architecture and Interiors by the former F&S Partners (SAAN’s Rick Jin was the project manager and project architect), Building Engineering by G+SAAN’s Dallas affiliate G-S Engineers, Lab Design by the former EWA Associates.