Historical preservation project of an important and protected building in east Austin, now owned and restored by the University of Texas at Austin. Design and built in 1952 to house the Colored Teachers Association of Texas by John Chase, the first black student to graduate from the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture. Learn more here.

The building was renovated to house the university Division of Diversity and Community Engagement. Architectural focus was placed on preserving as many historic elements as possible, while updating the space to meet the new occupant’s functional requirements. This balance led to preservation of building design elements like the flat roof with no attic or plenum, and the original single-pane window frames. MEP design therefore required a ductless, multi-split system, all new plumbing to replace the existing failed plumbing as well as to account for a potential future expansion, and all new electrical service and indoor and site lighting.