National Emancipation Historic Center

COAD
Collaborative Project

Fall
2021

Educational Facility
Building SF : 8,662 SF

Software Used:
ArcGIS, AutoCAD, Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Rhino7, SketchUp

This 8,662 SF, three-story learning center sits along the Emancipation National Historic Trail in Houston’s Third Ward. Designed to bring people together through education and community, it features classrooms, research areas, and a 600 SF multipurpose room for events and gatherings.

The design integrates structural and mechanical systems seamlessly into the architecture, guided by the site’s history, environment, and solar orientation.

Grasshopper Script - “Floating” Brick Facade

A standout feature is the “floating” brick façade—serving both as a solar screen and a tribute to the neighborhood’s rich masonry traditions

A screenshot of a grasshopper script with various interconnected nodes and parameters, utilized for the design conceptualization and visualization for a brick facade.
A site plan depicting a building with a landscaped area and parking lot, located at the intersection of Tuam Street and Emancipation Avenue, with surrounding trees and neighboring structures.
Architectural blueprint showing building sections, wall and ceiling details, insulation, support brackets, glass mullions, steel columns, and exterior wall finishes.
Two women walking inside a modern building with brick walls, looking at a large study poster on the wall. The building features metal and glass design elements, with a row of chairs visible through a doorway.

The Emancipation National Historic Trail

Cross-section of a modern multi-story building showing interior layout with brick walls, large glass doors, and balconies with a unique suspended design feature.