The 40,435-sq-ft Innovation Center, which sits 30 ft from an existing academic building, primarily serves the Dallas area’s low-income youth. Completed on an active campus in January 2021, the $8.3-million project included a chapel, 5,600 sq ft of space for the fine arts program and a soccer field.

Photo by Charles Smith

Almost immediately, the team saw that poor soil conditions had caused the ground to collapse around the drilled bell piers. The team switched to more secure straight piers.

Photo by Charles Smith

An unsightly and space-robbing above-ground storm detention system was replaced with an underground alternative.

Photo by Charles Smith

Meanwhile, a butterfly roof on the new center eliminates the needs for a gutter system and downspouts that pour water onto the surface. Instead, the butterfly roof captures water in a central basin and then transports it away from the campus through the building and out to the storm detention system. The stormwater system’s design and water-use reduction efforts contributed to LEED certification for the project.

Photo by Charles Smith