DOUGHERTY ARTS CENTER

Dougherty Art Center is an adaptive-reuse project that integrates with the surrounding landscape. The design draws inspiration from the former Dougherty Arts Center’s form and incorporates recycled materials from the original structure. Given the site’s location in a floodplain near a park, the ideal solution would be no building at all. However, the center was reconceived as a refuge from the intense Texas sun. The building features distinctive catenary curved entrances on three sides facing the park. The center underwent a significant programmatic transformation, converting traditional classrooms into flexible art studios where teachers operate from mobile offices, encouraging dynamic space utilization. At its heart, a courtyard serves as a shaded gathering space for performances and relaxation, embodying the project’s emphasis on adaptability and connection to its environment.