HCU Moody Library Renovation
This renovation reimagines the library as a dynamic hub for learning, connection, and adaptability. As education and research shift away from traditional models, new service paradigms are emerging to meet the evolving needs of students and universities. The library’s value is no longer measured solely by its books and collections, but by its ability to bend and flex with changing institutional priorities. By reshaping the relationship between information, technology, and people, the design positions the library to thrive amid the cultural, social, and economic changes shaping higher education.
Location
Houston, Texas
Design Team
Joe Rivers, Melissa Cross, Rafia Imran, Esmer Leija, and Kevin Barden
Typology
Commercial
Date
2022
Process
Explore
Walnut Springs Guest House
Johnson City, Texas
Residential
Perched on a rocky rise in the Texas Hill Country, the Walnut Springs Guest House offers a nature-immersed retreat for a city family. Two hand-crafted stone volumes anchor the home, framing shaded porches and a generous central gathering space while sheltering private rooms.
Peter Molick
Photographer
Art and Design
In this episode our resident architects Joe Rivers and Kevin Barden visit with Peter Molick, an architectural photographer from Houston, Texas. Peter Molick's work as an architectural photographer has him capturing on film life's many varied spaces. His portfolio runs the gambit from new construction homes, office buildings, and museums, to a clothing store, a music hall, and even a stadium. But we really wanted to visit with Pete to discuss a work of his that he did outside of professional output. The piece, called Crossings, has been showing since May at the 15th Venice Architecture Biennale, the most influential exhibition in architecture. Joe and Kevin talk with Pete about his craft as an architectural photographer, what drove him to create Crossings, and the future of his career and creative outlets.
Evolution of Japanese Craftsmanship
Esmer Leija
Writing
In the summer of 2023, Esmer had the opportunity to study abroad in Japan. During her time abroad, she found herself captivated by the evolution of Japenese craftsmanship in architecture. Within this essay, she explores the significance of Japanese craftsmanship and its role as a poignant reminder that the essence of true artistry endues despite the ever-changing tides of time.