Digital advancement and leadership define the Gates Dell Complex

Austin, TX, USA
Education

The Department of Computer Science at The University of Texas at Austin was scattered around the renowned campus which limited peer and faculty collaboration and jeopardized the school’s legacy of creating new scientific inquiry and technology. Bringing people and ideas of all departments together under one roof with flexible state of the art facilities transforms one of the nation’s leading academic programs into an innovative twenty-first century interdisciplinary environment.

The atrium is the complex’s primary gathering place. With wood finishes and lounge seating, the atrium is a warm, welcoming environment.
“The way the architects designed the buildings allows a lot of space for research labs and collaborative areas, including abilities for interdisciplinary work. The building will enable us to be together like a community on campus, with increased collaboration and synergies.” — Nancy Hatchett, Assistant Director, Computer Science Department
Bridges across the upper levels can be used for study and informal meetings and a grand staircase provides opportunities for serendipitous encounters.

Designing a new interdisciplinary culture

This state-of-the-art computer science complex consists of two buildings: the Dell Computer Science Hall and a wing to the south, connected by a central atrium for studying and social gatherings. The complex brings together all programs, faculty, and students for the first time in the Computer Science Department’s history and furthers the school’s mission of collaboration.

Research areas include faculty, graduate student, visitor and administrative offices, several open discussion areas, technical support spaces and a large conference room. This grouping is designed to encourage a comfortable environment for meaningful collaboration.
20,000+
sq. ft. of flexible research space

A new era of research in computer education 

The interdisciplinary mission of the new complex encourages the sharing of ideas and brings together faculty and students with an interest to push the boundaries of technology. Research clusters with glassed-in laboratories are integrated into the design of the complex to support this transformational agenda.

The design of the complex emphasizes modern uses of materials found in the Spanish Mediterranean buildings at the core of the UT Austin campus. Exterior walls use the university’s signature mix of Texas brick laid in a stack bond or grid-like pattern.

More About the Project

Project Team

Principal Collaborators

  • Architect of Record: STG Design
  • Structural Engineering: Datum Gojer Engineers, LLC
  • MEP: HMG & Associates Inc.

Project Information

  • Location: Austin, Texas, USA
  • Client: The University of Texas at Austin
  • Size: 233,600 sq. ft. / 21,702 sq. m.
  • Completion: 2013
  • Certification: LEED Silver
  • Firm Role: Design Architect
  • Principal Project Photography: Jeff Goldberg/ESTO

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