Michelle was the Assistant Project Manager and Team Member for the William C. Powers Student Activity Center at the University of Texas in Austin with Overland Partners Architects. With spaces uniquely designed for student use including student meeting rooms, a student government chamber, student organization offices, it also houses spaces such as a black box theater, a 500 seat auditorium, and a 5,000 square foot ballroom. When the students’ budget ran short of their design ambitions, Overland offered a solution that makes the most of the temperate Austin climate. Courtyards, rooftop terraces, and other outdoor spaces further contribute to the conversation the building has with the surrounding campus, while conditioned exhaust air vented extends the seasons that these spaces are able to occupied. Limestone and terracotta fit the university’s architectural vernacular, while distinctive modern design establishes its moment in history. It balances the need for timelessness and integration with the historic campus while being open, transparent and welcoming. But most importantly, it serves as a place to see and be seen, a place for meeting, and a place for building community.