Jackson & Ryan Architects are excited to share that Sarofim Hall. The new 80,000-square-foot home for Rice University’s Department of Art is nearing completion and will open in Fall of 2025. Designed by architecture firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro, with Jackson & Ryan Architects serving as executive architect, this state-of-the-art facility is located on the former site of the Art Barn and Media Center and is poised to become a dynamic new hub for the visual and cinematic arts at Rice.

Sarofim Hall reinterprets the iconic “Butler Building” typology, drawing inspiration from the industrial aesthetic structures that once stood on the site. With its exposed steel frame, intersecting glass walls, and flexible outdoor spaces, the design invites students, faculty, and the public to engage with the arts in bold new ways. The facility will support multidisciplinary practice with robust materials and adaptable spaces including workshops, studios, a gallery, and a performance lab that flow seamlessly between indoor and outdoor environments.Jackson & Ryan Architects are excited to share that Sarofim Hall. The new 80,000-square-foot home for Rice University’s Department of Art is nearing completion and will open in Fall of 2025. Designed by architecture firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro, with Jackson & Ryan Architects serving as executive architect, this state-of-the-art facility is located on the former site of the Art Barn and Media Center and is poised to become a dynamic new hub for the visual and cinematic arts at Rice.

Sarofim Hall reinterprets the iconic “Butler Building” typology, drawing inspiration from the industrial aesthetic structures that once stood on the site. With its exposed steel frame, intersecting glass walls, and flexible outdoor spaces, the design invites students, faculty, and the public to engage with the arts in bold new ways. The facility will support multidisciplinary practice with robust materials and adaptable spaces including workshops, studios, a gallery, and a performance lab that flow seamlessly between indoor and outdoor environments.