# Locally Sourced School Buildings This Texas Engineering School's Building is Beautifully Designed By Justin Lam | Published 2018-01-31 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/texas-engineering-school References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2018/01/30/engineering-education-research-center-university-texas-austin-ennead/) & [ennead](http://www.ennead.com/work/eerc) American architectural firm [Ennead](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/us-consulate-general) completed a gorgeous lattice-front atrium for the Texas engineering school. The new building at the [University of Texas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crow-museum-of-asian-art) in Austin is comprised of two towers linked by a central glass. The front facade is ordained with [diamond-patterned set of structural supports](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/darlington-public-school) that give the building a distinct design. The entire atrium is paneled in glass and as the atrium joins the two side buildings, the theme of the design focuses on ideas of transparency and unification. With plenty of natural light and an innovative design, the building is meant to provide a collaborative environment for students, faculty and researchers all using the space. The materials used to construct the Texas engineering school building were all found within the native area. Limestone, stainless steel and zinc are all sourced locally from Texas and hearken back to the other buildings on campus. The building also contains several sustainable features, including optimized solar orientation and planted rooftop landscapes. The building has been constructed to earn LEED Silver certification from the US Green Building Council. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.6/10 - Popularity: 56% | Activity: 13% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) > [Eco Architecture](https://www.trendhunter.com/ecoarchitecture) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Sustainable Architecture:** The use of locally sourced, sustainable materials, such as limestone, stainless steel, and zinc, presents an opportunity for architecture firms to differentiate and appeal to environmentally conscious clients. - **Transparent Design:** The theme of transparency in the design of the Texas engineering school building provides opportunities for architecture firms to create visually stunning and collaborative spaces for clients seeking similar environments. - **Green Building Certification:** The Texas engineering school building has been constructed to earn LEED Silver certification, indicating a growing trend among clients to prioritize eco-friendly building practices and presenting opportunities for firms to specialize in sustainability. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Architecture:** Architecture firms can use the Texas engineering school building as a model for sustainable, transparent, and award-winning design that appeals to clients seeking environmentally conscious and collaborative workspaces. - **Green Building and Construction:** As clients prioritize sustainability, new industries focused on eco-friendly building practices and products will emerge in response, such as green materials sourcing, specialized construction practices, and energy-efficient building systems. - **Higher Education:** Higher education institutions, such as the University of Texas, will prioritize the incorporation of sustainable and collaborative design elements, providing opportunities for architecture firms and contractors to specialize in these areas for the education sector. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Complex University Buildings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/leed-v4-goldrated-schoenecker-center.md) - [Academic Architecture Additions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cannady-hall.md) - [Sustainable Educational Architecture Projects](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sustainable-educational-architecture.md) - [Traditional Sustainable School Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/universidad-ean-1.md) - [Low-Lying Limestone-Clad Schools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fossil-building.md) - [Modern Blue-Accented Academic Buildings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/marie-esther-pavilion.md) - [Nature-Bounding School Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cole-du-znith.md) - [Education Architecture Expansions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rainbow-international-school.md) - [Timber Research Hubs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/anthony-timberlands.md)