School of Rural Public Health

When Texas A&M University asked Omniplan to design the nation's only School of Rural Public Health, there were no architectural precedents to observe. Designers chose to let the facility's three distinct uses: offices, classrooms, and laboratories - direct the form of the project. Because physical requirements are so different for each of these uses, Omniplan segmented them into three separate buildings to address specific requirements efficiently and cost-effectively. By creating a small, intimate grouping, Omniplan was able to set the school apart from several towering structures that surrounded the site. The result is a cohesive educational community that functions in much the same way as the rural communities it serves, with a central courtyard that serves as common ground.