New TACC Building Breaks Ground on UT Pickle Campus
Austin, Texas — More than 100 staff and supporters attended a groundbreaking celebration yesterday (Feb. 18) for the new Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) office building on The University of Texas J.J. Pickle Research Campus. The new facility, which will support research and activities promoting the field of advanced computing and computational science, is a design/build project being completed by the team of O’Connell Robertson and Flintco.
The new 38,000 SF, three-story office building will be connected by an enclosed walkway to TACC’s current facilities. The new facility will feature a 1,500 SF visualization lab that will be used to generate awareness and support for visualization research and programs. The state-of-the-art monitors will provide a high level of detail for researchers to visualize and analyze data. The facility will also include an auditorium that will seat 267 people and a flexible training room for 50 people. Interior spaces will provide flexibility, comfort, and connectivity integrated into the public lobby/gathering space, reception area, conference room, training facilities, offices, and student work areas. The sophisticated and inviting design reflects TACC’s emphasis on technology, innovation, sustainability and transparency.
“Our mission for this project was to design a world class research facility inspired by advanced computing technology,” states Jarrod Sterzinger, AIA, LEED AP, a senior associate with O’Connell Robertson who is serving as the project manager and architect. “We are proud to have helped craft this facility that will enable research and discoveries that advance science and society.”
“TACC has transformed computing at UT, UT System, around the country, and around the world,” said Dan Stanzione, TACC’s Executive Director. “Today marks a momentous day in the growth of the Texas Advanced Computing Center.”
The design team led by O’Connell Robertson (architecture, MEP engineering, and interior design services) includes Datum Engineers (structural), MWM DesignGroup (civil), DataCom Design Group (technology/communications), BAi (acoustics/AV), and Coleman & Associates (landscape architecture).