SCU Dowd Art & Art History Building

This project includes 45,000 SF new construction of a 3-story building that integrates more than 45,000 SF of centralized, state-of-the-art studio, classroom, gallery, and other space for faculty, students, and visiting artists and scholars. Situated next to the Jesuit Community Residence and close to Mission Santa Clara de Asís, the new building reshapes the northern entrance of the University. The first floor of the building is primarily dedicated to gallery space and classrooms for instruction in three-dimensional art, such as sculpture. Upon entering, the most striking feature is a large blown-glass sculpture by famed artist Dale Chihuly on display in the main lobby. The second floor of the Edward M. Dowd Art and Art History building primarily house office and studio space for faculty. The third floor is used for instruction of two-dimensional art. This floor also has computer facilities for students enrolled in popular digital arts classes. Underneath the building’s dome is the pantheon lobby which further opens up to the pantheon terrace, offering views of campus. This new dedicated, centralized home for the department provides greatly expanded flexibility, capacity, and resources for the department, which serves more than 1,000 students a year.