Academia, principally, is a driver of legacy. From founders to traditions, a college campus is a defining place for communities. As it ages, a campus becomes a mechanism for understanding architectural influence. Students will come and go, but buildings endure generations. At Rice University, a new student center designed by Olson Kundig (OK), with Page as the executive architect, seeks to make its mark on the 100-year-old campus, harnessing its past to shape student futures.  A longstanding residential college tradition shaped Rice through its first centennial, now the university has a need for more accessible and hospitable spaces. With rising enrollment rates, a growing graduate population, and needs of the student body diversifying, The Moody Center Complex for Student Life (MCCSL) will broaden Rice’s offerings for collective student engagement. “It is so interesting to work on an academic project at this moment in time, and to support the goals of bringing people together—keeping that physical gathering aspect of higher education alive,” shared Kirsten Ring Murray, principal and owner of OK. “[We are] embracing those traditions, but at the same time setting up a university or college to grow and to change and to provide more for more types of students.” At Capacity Two separate buildings, Rice Memorial Center (RMC) and Ley Student Center (LSC), make up the current “student hub” on campus. Across both buildings, students can buy textbooks, share a meal together, or host a weekly club meeting. However, with support services, student-run businesses like the Coffeehouse, the radio station KTRU, and organizations battling for space, it can feel cramped. Along with providing gathering spaces for students, the Moody Center Complex will offset some of the office spaces.  The ground floor design of the Moody Center Complex is anchored by a student-run coffee shop that will be moving out of the RMC. (Courtesy Olson Kundig) In 2020, Rice held a design competition for proposals to expand and replace the RMC. Adjaye Associates was tapped for the project, but was later removed by Rice University. , the project was first paused due to economic issues, then subsequently “reset” in 2023 following allegations of sexual misconduct raised against David Adjaye. Adjaye denies the claims. The new facility by Olson Kundig will complement the existing RMC and LSC, creating one unified network of buildings, driving student traffic through the central quad. The project is supported by a $100 million commitment from the Moody Foundation. Upon completion of the new construction, both extant buildings will undergo renovations, creating a more functional space for the increasing student population.  “My hope is that [the new student center] will provide opportunities for our students to form meaningful connections, not only with one another, but also with a vast network of scholars and leaders from local to global communities,” said Elle Moody, a trustee of both the Moody Foundation and Rice, in a recent press release.  Connecting Through History The axial vistas of the central quadrangle at Rice University have been in development since the school’s General Plan—designed by Cram, Goodhue, and Ferguson Architects—was issued in 1910. The landscape of the front half of the quad, divided by a path behind Fondren Library, was updated by Nelson Byrd Woltz (NBW) last year. The addition of the Moody Center Complex marks another major upgrade to the intermediate site.  As Olson Kundig took reference of the existing buildings, it noted that structures framing Rice quads contain an elongated linearity. The design seeks to maintain this linearity, but flips the standard orientation: facing the quad as opposed to the road which activates the lawn in a modern way. The design of the facade is also informed by precedence for building patterns, forms, and materiality. This is most notable in the masonry details, along with the building’s subtle, renaissance-inspired tripartite configuration.  Elevated on a five-foot plinth, the building’s structure creates new opportunity for movement across the central quad. (Courtesy Olson Kundig) Sire plan (Courtesy Olson Kundig) Though naturally occurring plants, trees, and shrubbery grow all over campus, the land by Lawson Grove is environmentally rich. In its design, Olson Kundig promotes accessing the abundance of nature on the campus, which itself is an arboretum. In accordance with the NBW update, which saw the addition of over 24,000 new plants and 90 new trees to the quad, OK has saved as many trees as possible in its plans. The firm’s use of breezeways engages with the covered loggias and live oak canopies that are a staple of Rice’s campus and architectural typologies of the South. Covered paths provide additional shade, encouraging outdoor engagement even in hot weather. The creation of an indoor-outdoor flow provides a space for more than just coffee and meetings—but the potential for picnics or a game of frisbee with respect for Houston’s fluctuating weather. “It’s a bit of a social experiment where we’re wondering if architecture can, in fact, encourage people to come together,” OK principal and owner Alan Maskin shared with AN about the project. “I’ve always believed that people feel most comfortable when they can see into spaces and see themselves reflected, before they even walk through the door, in ways that make them feel welcome.” In its announcement, the university noted that the input of Rice students on the new construction is “integral to shaping its campus experience,” and with half the team at OK composed of Rice alums, the design is a chance to consider how they can improve their alma mater. “It’s a real strength and a very fortunate feeling to have half the team have first-hand experience [of campus],” shared Blair Payson, a principal and owner at OK and Rice alum.  Continuous Evolution Organized through levels, the ground floor of the Moody Center Complex features a lobby, open gathering space, and a cafe. A student-run coffee shop serves as an anchor to the ground floor design, featuring fixed places for things like a photo wall while providing a certain flexibility that allows the space to evolve over time. The upper floors house additional classrooms, student services offices, and clustered meeting rooms. The interior architecture draws connections to the exterior landscape. (Courtesy Olson Kundig) Through warm tones and wood accents, the palette of the interiors creates a visual connection to the outdoor environment. Generous glazing throughout seeks to democratize the availability of natural light, a deviation from the more classical, narrow window patterns in pre-existing buildings. OK stays conscious of shading and solar orientation to maximize lighting without sacrificing privacy. This approach to transparency also increases fluidity, allowing the space to be more easily adapted in the future. OK hopes to achieve LEED Gold status on the project. Spatially, the indoor-outdoor flow of the building is emphasized by the massing itself. To accommodate flood planning, the center is elevated from the quad on a five-foot plinth. In response to the elevation, tiers attached to the front facade create space for leisure and sun coverage while maintaining access to a primary thoroughfare for students to move across the central quad. “We think that this building is going to be one that continues to evolve. Student facing programs evolve quite often, so we’re thinking of the building as a somewhat flexible framework of private and public working spaces, gathering spaces, lots of nooks and crannies for people to occupy,” Ring Murray added. “We’re setting it up for really comfortable, organic, evolving uses.” The “opportunity pavilion” is open, flexible space that can be used for a variety of programming. (Courtesy Olson Kundig) One such example is what Olson Kundig refers to as the “opportunity pavilion.” Sitting on a key access point with Brochstein Pavilion and a James Turrell Skyspace on the other end, the opportunity pavilion is an open, flexible space, with seating for up to 300 people. Designed entirely for fluid use, the space is envisioned to hold anything from lectures to job fairs. Additionally, an attached stage provides opportunities for film and music programming. The building, in a way, is a reflection of Rice University itself—a campus based on tradition, with a formidable connection to history. “It’s also tied to the part of [Rice] that does extraordinary research and has incredible technical and academic abilities,” Maskin added. “These offerings are all about the future, and if this building can bridge those two aspects of Rice University, then I think we’ll have done a good thing.” The MCCSL will officially break ground on May 8, with a projected completion in fall 2027.