Rice University’s Kraft Hall for Social Sciences is the first new building located on the expanding campus’s South Axis. The 78,000 sq. ft. building serves as the home for the School of Social Sciences and combines multiple research institutes to serve the largest section of the University’s undergraduate population. The facility houses the university’s Economics and Sociology departments, four research institutes, the Dean’s Suite, innovative classrooms, and collaboration and event spaces for students, faculty, and visitors. 

The building enclosure is composed of multiple systems including unitized curtain wall with a ceramic frit pattern, low-e coating on insulating glass units, and custom vertical fin elements. 

Heintges provided building envelope and curtain wall consulting services Design and Construction phases.