A winner of a design-build competition, the School of Energy provides classroom and lab space designed to teach workforce training for the oil and gas industry in addition to degree programs for the College. The nationally recognized energy education program, one of only a few similar programs in the country, has attracted industry interest from the region, nation, and overseas.

The building is oriented parallel to and stepping down the contours of a steeply sloping hill providing a wide footprint and ample ceiling height to meet the functional requirements of the program. Two story high lab spaces are arrayed contiguously for future flexibility, adjacent to a two-story stack of classrooms to allow visual access from the classrooms to the labs. All of the labs and classrooms are visible from internal circulation areas as well, in keeping with the School’s desire for an open environment to encourage interaction. Where orientation dictates control and mitigation of sunlight and glare, exterior perforated metal screens are provided while also allowing views to the exterior.

The design was implemented within the extremely modest budget of the design-build competition by strictly adhering to the space program with an efficient plan, a compact form with minimal exterior surface area, a modular, repeating structural grid, and the use of readily available industrial materials for both the interior and exterior finishes. The simple form and its strategically placed glazing, and white, texturally varied skin results in a simple, elegant and distinct image appropriate to the industry and teaching mission of the facility.