ARCH 5502 // Study Abroad Center // Marfa, TX // 2017

 This project proposes a hybridized study abroad center and satellite campus for Texas Tech University in the city in Marfa. The project seeks to reconcile the affluent and struggling demographics of Texas students and residents of Marfa while presenting an opportunity for sustainable and diverse growth in Presidio County.

 The MESA (Marfa center for Education, Skills, and Apprenticeship) seeks to allow diverse avenues of education, including a workshop and proximity for service based learning, short and mid-term housing for staggered instructional tracks, and an opportunity for a year-long residency program. This long-term education program is aimed at pairing young adults with the citizens of Marfa to learn a craft, mentorship in life skills, all with an opportunity to learn independence during a gap year between high school and college.

The challenges to this design proposal were to fit all the programmatic needs on one campus in order to form a more cohesive community. Additionally, the programmatic needs were tailored to suggest a curriculum that would maximize use of the campus throughout the year while providing enough flexibility for pedagogical diversity.

 The design solution suggests three conditioned spaces, a small unconditioned gatehouse, and central courtyard space. One structure hosts learning spaces on the ground level with accommodations for 24 short term and 16 mid-term students above. The central structure hosts services such as eating, preparation, and workshops.

The opposing building hosts 4 guest suites and common area for visiting dignitaries, lecturers, and critics; permanent residences for a program director and site coordinator; rooms for four short or mid-term instructors; and permanent accommodations and spaces for six residency students. The design palette suggests a blend of CMU construction, brick, and rammed earth walls at key moments.

Thee form of the structures is a loose blend of design inspiration from military and agri-industrial examples from the region. The arrangement and composition is based on other precedents and design cues from the work of local legend Donald Judd.