University of Houston The Hub (formerly Auxiliary Retail Center)

Project Name

The Hub

Size (sq ft)

41,000

HEI Project Profile - Long

The University of Houston’s Hub provides students with a welcoming, modern campus destination. The two-story facility replaces the former below-grade Student Center Satellite dining space and brings retail, and dining functions together in a highly visible location. Designed as a true third place beyond home and the classroom, The Hub supports daily student life with multiple food concepts, a café and market, auxiliary offices, commons areas, meeting spaces, and indoor and outdoor seating for approximately 400 guests. Its mass timber structure, partial reuse of the existing foundation and structural elements, and LEED Silver certification reflect a thoughtful approach to sustainability and long-term campus value. Our team coordinated closely around the exposed mass timber elements, minimizing penetrations through the timber structure and allowing only fire protection piping to pass through the beams. Because dining and gathering spaces depend on strong air movement and thermal comfort, we also addressed complex HVAC pressurization requirements, including the use of the open second floor as part of the return air path. The project encountered late-stage HVAC testing and balancing challenges. We worked with the architect, contractor, and mechanical subcontractor to develop a cost-effective solution that kept the project on schedule and avoided delaying building turnover. The result is a vibrant, sustainable hub for student life, where the building systems support the experience without getting in the way.

Keywords