The College of Visual Arts and Design at the University of North Texas (UNT) is one of the largest art schools in the country and a major hub of innovation for the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Prior to Machado Silvetti’s design, existing space and infrastructural limitations forced the College to occupy disparate leftover spaces across the vast campus to house its wide-ranging programs, undermining the goal of a cohesive, cross-disciplinary culture.  

Working closely with the faculty and staff of the College of Visual Arts and Design and the UNT Office of Facilities, Planning, Design and Construction, Machado Silvetti recognized that unification of the College was the single most important design mandate and established the motto “One College One Building.” The firm proposed that renovated and new buildings share a common structural grid and be organized around a central courtyard space sized to hold the entire College of Visual Arts and Design student body for graduation and formal school ceremonies. This outdoor living room and the nearby ground-level café both support a range of happenings—from outdoor fashion shows to public art film screenings and student work installations—showcasing student work and opening the college to the public. 

The result is a state-of-the-art facility that combines renovations and a major addition into one unified building that sets a new standard for interdisciplinary arts and design education.

“We wanted a very porous structure that would encourage everyone from our UNT and Denton communities, and beyond, to be curious. And, in turn, have the opportunity to see what we do – to witness our practice.”

— Greg Watts, Dean of the College of Visual Arts and Design