For their latest project, Rice Building Workshop collaborated with the Rice Center for Energy and Environmental Research in the Human Sciences (CENHS) to provide a temporary ‘pop-up’ venue for Houston FotoFest 2016 ‘Art and Energy’, with commissioned installations by artists Judy Natal (Another Storm Is Coming) and Marina Zurkow (Dear Climate). RBW was able to use three existing container boxes donated by MetaLab and MobileGrid, complete with off-grid phot-voltaic systems. The site was a prominent location on the Rice campus.
Students worked closely with the artists, CENHS, MetaLab, MobileGrid (the solar company associated with MetaLab), consultants, and with one another. In the fall of 2015, eight students at all levels worked on the design, and in the spring of 2016, four students and additional volunteers worked on the installation. The implementation included site utilization for indoor and outdoor display and activities, components such as ramps and walkways, interior installation, and projection, audio, lighting, graphics, etc.
The project was completed on schedule in April, and was open for six weeks.