Forging a Future:
The Birth of BUILD+

Since its inception in 1990, the University of Houston's Graduate Design/Build Studio (GD/BS) has been a pioneering force in university-based design and construction education. Recognized locally and nationally, the program has provided graduate students with an immersive, hands-on experience bridging theory and practice. As the architectural field has undergone profound transformations, the Studio has remained steadfast in its mission to prepare students for the complexities of the profession. By engaging with every phase of the building process, from the initial concept to the completed structure, participants gain the skills and confidence needed to adapt and excel in an ever-changing industry.

Navigating Challenges and Opportunities

In recent years, however, the Studio's projects have become increasingly challenging to design and construct within the short timeframe of a semester or academic year. Permitting takes considerably longer than it did thirty years ago. Combined with external constraints, as a public institution, the University's academic calendar, budget schedule, and contracting process evolved into hindrances for successfully executing design/build projects and further expanding the program.

Two years ago, the Hines College began exploring ways to shape a more accessible and opportunistic path for its design/build program. Inspired by Studio 804, a program at Kansas University, dean Patricia Belton Oliver, FAIA, sought to see what could be done at UH to increase and better students' educational experience in design/build and cultivate a program serving the College's future.

Dean Oliver charged the College's research liaison officer, Maria Modelska, to research various institutions and programs across the United States and learn about the different approaches and outcomes others had experienced.

"Many programs I encountered encouraged us to strive toward being a separate organization; however, we had to be careful about ensuring we had thought of everything," said Modelska. "How were we going to insure students and our work sites? Where were we going to get our tools and supplies? Could we use our College fabrication facilities like the Keeland Design Exploration Lab? It became clear we needed to set up an independent organization that was still connected with the University."

Modelska studied many institutions; however, the programs established by Mary Hardin at the University of Arizona (Drachman Design-Build Coalition) and Dan Rockhill at Kansas University (Studio 804) proved the most compelling.

University of Arizona – Drachman Design-Build Coalition

The University of Arizona's Drachman Design-Build Coalition, founded in 2004, transitioned into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit housing provider by 2006. Initially, the program focused on affordable housing projects in collaboration with organizations like Habitat for Humanity, which constrained student creativity to pre-existing designs. The University established the nonprofit to allow greater independence, enabling the program to secure loans and develop its own projects. The program provides architecture students valuable experience and NCARB-registered AXP credit hours, offering hands-on construction exposure on job sites. Students are covered under university liability policies as part of their coursework, with the College of Architecture supporting grants and providing access to fabrication facilities. The program operates on a multi-semester model, dedicating 13–14 hours per week during studio sessions to complete one project annually. Graduates benefit from strong job placements, reflecting the program's emphasis on professional readiness and practical expertise.

Kansas University – Studio 804

Founded in 1980, Studio 804 is a 501(c)(3) organization operating separately from Kansas University but governed by an agreement defining responsibilities and liabilities between the nonprofit and the University. Initially partnering with the Lawrence Housing Authority to address urban housing needs in Lawrence, Kansas, the program later expanded its efforts to Kansas City. It began operating out of a barn and an abandoned warehouse but now resides in a university-owned warehouse while maintaining its autonomy. Studio 804 eventually evolved into a self-sustaining business, giving it creative freedom in design and construction. The program emphasizes intensive, hands-on learning for students, who collaborate with its director full-time for nine months on a single project each year. Studio 804 offers students valuable practical experience while keeping a clear distinction from direct university operations.

Patrick Peters, professor and coordinator of the Hines College's graduate design/build studio, had previously worked with Rockhill and Studio 804. Peters continues to be inspired by the quality of the design and construction work performed by students learning under Rockhill's leadership.

"In August 2023, I visited Studio 804 and was again generously toured through its recent work," shared Peters. "What struck me anew during this most recent trip was how successful entrepreneurship and ambitious investment in infrastructure have enabled the Studio's influence to expand far beyond that of a university-based initiative. Studio 804 continues to serve as a model from which we learn many lessons in Houston."

Could the Hines College create a program combining the best of both organizations?

A Vision for Transformation

Inspired by the work of these two programs, the Hines College decided to move forward with establishing a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that would reflect the best that both programs had to offer – BUILD+. However, this new initiative would just not happen overnight. The College had much to carefully consider and ensure its new endeavor would honor its exemplary design/build history while giving new life to expand the program in new ways.

"Launching an organization like BUILD+ seeks to expand the benefits of design/build experiences beyond the limited but decades-long impact of the Graduate Design/Build Studio to include more undergraduate students and to tackle more complex projects," said Peters. "Often, I receive unsolicited testimonials from former GD/BS students who cite the positive impact of the design/build experience on their careers. BUILD+ will contribute significantly to the growth of more students from all disciplines of the Hines College while creating lasting improvements to Houston and the region."

For a year and a half, Hines College worked closely with the University of Houston's General Counsel to evaluate the best options for establishing a new entity as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that would maintain its relationship with the University and provide more autonomy for design/build projects moving forward. In addition to taking on more intricate projects, BUILD+ could buy property and use the sites to engage in speculative projects, increasing research opportunities.

This fall, BUILD+ received nonprofit approval from the State of Texas and is expected to receive federal approval soon.

"BUILD+ represents an exciting new chapter unleashing the rich legacy of design/build at the College from previous constraints, allowing the expansion of building typologies, clients, material systems, and more," shared Gail Peter Borden, director of graduate studies and BUILD+ board member. "The aggregated impact will deeply challenge students across the curriculum and enlighten them to greater opportunities available through the synthetic thinking of design directly coupled with making."

The Road Ahead for BUILD+

As the Hines College worked to establish BUILD+, it was necessary to articulate its mission, draft bylaws, and prepare an initial board of directors, including dean Patricia Belton Oliver, FAIA (president), director of graduate studies Gail Peter Borden, FAIA (treasurer), and associate provost Jim Briggs (secretary). BUILD+ has now begun searching for additional board members in industry and the Houston community who will extend its reach and help the organization flourish. The critical need to start fundraising also starts as BUILD+ seeks to establish a foundation for its operations.

“BUILD+ will allow us to continue our legacy of community impact through the designs our students bring to life from concept through construction without the ever-increasing constraints we experience both internally and externally,” said Oliver. “As we develop BUILD+, we need board members committed to the education of our future architects and designers who also have the business acumen to help us advance projects, large and small. Our partners in this venture must be passionate about the impact BUILD+ can make on the communities we serve.”

Throughout the founding of BUILD+, the Hines College has developed key relationships with other higher education institutions running similar design/build programs throughout the country. Many are interested in maintaining those relationships and open communication moving forward. BUILD+ and the Hines College have the opportunity to partner with these organizations and other design/build professional groups to extend further as a leader in the design/build field and bring everyone together through future symposia and exhibitions.

BUILD+ shines a bright light on the future of design/build at the Hines College. The outcomes of what it means to create more opportunities for students, increase research, and make a stronger workforce will have a significant impact.