The Custard Institute for Spanish Art and Culture

SMU Meadows Renovation: The Custard Institute for Spanish Art and Culture

Project Overview: The Meadows Museum at Southern Methodist University serves as a new home for the new Custard Institute. The Custard Institute expands the museum’s current educational and research programs by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration with peer institutions and opening the door for new ways of teaching and learning. To create space for this new institute alongside the university's existing archives and libraries, we relocated existing spaces and renovated the mezzanine and catering kitchen to accommodate the Custard Institute.

Unique Challenge: The project involved the relocation of existing spaces and functions, staff offices, and support areas. During space reconfigurations, we noticed that the existing mezzanine area posed a risk that would not meet ADA compliance standards. Our team coordinated the relocation of security, fire alarm, and electrical piping to make room for the new HVAC infrastructure that fit into low-ceiling spaces while maintaining the required ceiling heights for ADA accessibility.

Location: Dallas, TX

Architect: Beck Architecture, LLC