Richter Architects has completed a new home for a beloved South Texas arts centre

The majority of the over 35,000 museums in the United States are small, regional institutions focusing on local history and supporting local artists. These museums often have limited funds and resources, host events, and workshops, and provide meeting spaces for community organizations. The Rockport Center for the Arts (RCA) is one such museum, located 30 miles northeast of Corpus Christi, Texas. After Hurricane Harvey destroyed the original building in 2017, the 53-year-old organization has been operating out of a temporary space. However, in 2021, Richter Architects broke ground on a new, permanent building for RCA. This is big news for the small museum and the community it serves.

The 1.2-acre site contains two buildings, with the first comprising four galleries and five classrooms spread across two stories and a total of 14,000 square feet. The ground floor of this building features the Mendez Family Gallery, an exhibition space dedicated explicitly to member artists, with an area of 850 square feet. Additionally, a special classroom is designed for advanced workshops, a ceramic studio, and a space allocated for jewellery-making, photography, painting, and other art forms.

The second building is located across the quad and houses the Rockport Conference Center (The ROCC) as well as an 8,000-square-foot performing arts and event centre. The official grand opening of the entire campus is scheduled for December 11, however, the ROCC has already hosted its first official event, The Rockport Film Festival, last month.

According to Texas Architect, the buildings have been constructed with the goal of being as resistant to hurricanes as possible. Reinforced with concrete blocks and supported by concrete columns, they sit on an extra deep foundation. Although most of the fortification is not visible, the grey exterior fibre cement lap siding gives a hint of the concrete used throughout. The north-facing sawtooth roof allows for natural light to flood galleries and classrooms while also adding a playful element to the otherwise heavy structures. The Principal of Richter Architects, Elizabeth Chu Richter, stated at the groundbreaking ceremony that the goal was to create an arts enclave that is both sturdy and welcoming.

The architects improved the buildings by adding a sculpture garden and rooftop terrace to make the most of RCA's location near the water (the complex is a block away from Aransas Bay). The 16,000-square-foot Patricia Bennett Moore Sculpture Garden features nine pieces from the permanent collection surrounded by plants and pools. A small rooftop terrace lets visitors see the sculptures over the bay.

The RCA's gift shop sells handmade works from member artists in a variety of media.

According to Elena Rodriguez, the curator of exhibitions for Rockport Center for the Arts, the addition of four new galleries allows for multiple exhibitions to occur simultaneously while also allowing for a greater focus on individual artists and their work. The galleries are equipped with state-of-the-art features such as tall walls with no windows, flexible display capabilities, and advanced lighting and audio-visual setups. The exhibitions in these spaces will be constantly changing and nothing will be permanent. The two inaugural shows at the new galleries are The Big Wave!, an annual exhibition featuring work by member artists, and Standing Out 2022, a showcase of work by members Alison Schuchs, Jim Blaylock, and Shelly Wierzba. Both shows will be open until January 2023.