The $16.8-million restoration of historic Weeks Hall at Texas Tech University required the project team to transform a three-story residence hall into a fresh new space on campus where students and faculty could collaborate, study and work. 

The restoration had been abandoned for the better part of three decades, and converting the 1950s-era building created challenges when it came to retrofitting it with modern utilities.

Photo by Travis Lewis

The team’s solution was to implement a versatile, highly compact, chilled beam mechanical system, which uses radiant cooling and requires 70% less air than traditional HVAC systems. Coordination between trades and attention to detail were crucial to this installation.

Related link: ENR Texas/Louisiana Best Projects 2021