+ Project Details

About:
Completion - Spring 2020 Educational Facility
Austin Community College District Austin, TX
420,000 sf

After completing Phase I, BGK was selected to transform an additional 420,000 sf of the former Highland Mall into a centrally located workforce training campus featuring educational and community spaces for Austin Community College District (ACC). Expanding the campus capacity to 13,000 students, Phase II is focused on student success and the innovative delivery of education in support of ACC’s mission.

The design concept includes the demolition of existing roof and floors to create an outdoor pass-thru "paseo" that highlights those college departments that benefit the most from public interface: a student-run restaurant, Multi-media Art Gallery, 150-seat Black Box Theater, Music Performance Hall, and a Dance Performance Studio. Providing education for high-demand careers in the region, Phase II also houses numerous other Departments and Programs including Photography, Radio Television Film (RTF), Architectural & Engineering CAD (AE CAD), Music Business, Health Sciences, Culinary Arts, Regional Workforce Center, Graphic Design, Game Design Animation, Drama, Dance, Computer Science, Manufacturing & Business Incubator and more. The space promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and supports partnerships with local businesses, elevating the outcomes and opportunities for students and ACC. Designed in collaboration with Perkins&Will.

Press and Awards
AIA Design Award of Excellence, 2023
ABJ Community Impact Award, 2023
IIDA Texas Oklahoma Design Excellence for Education, 2022
ULI Austin Impact Award, Best Project Innovation, 2022
2022 TASA/TASB Star of Distinction