Since 2000, ExxonMobil and the ExxonMobil Foundation have invested $1.6 billion in support of education in the areas where they operate around the world.

With a goal of expanding access to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education and increasing the number of students who can be the next generation of engineers and scientists, the ExxonMobil Foundation is piloting a new afterschool program – Teen Engineering and Tech Centers – that provides free, high-quality, hands-on learning opportunities for underserved students in Houston and Spring, Texas.

As the ExxonMobil Foundation embarked on this new STEM initiative, they needed a design partner they could trust and who could create a welcoming, fun learning environment for high school students.

The first pilot Teen Engineering and Tech Center (TETC) is a 13,000-square-foot building in Spring, Texas, that sits adjacent to the ExxonMobil campus and in close proximity to the Foundation’s partner high schools. To create successful pathways to STEM careers, we needed to create a fun, approachable, and durable space that could break down barriers and encourage students to pursue a career in STEM. We leaned heavily into design visioning, working alongside seasoned educators to transform a former childcare facility into the optimal learning experience for teens from all walks of life.

In support of the Foundation’s mission to create the next generation of engineers, we pulled back the curtain of the engineering design process and deconstructed the interior architecture. Alongside concrete floors and punched windows, exposed conduits create lighting pathways throughout, inspiring energy and connectivity. Glass walls and doors emphasize visibility into key spaces and encourage curiosity and innovation. In the virtual reality center, known as the Digital Garage, the design responds to elevation changes with raised flooring accented with see-through LED-lit tiles.

3D Printing Lab features transparent acrylic tubes for discarded printing scraps. As time passes, the tubes will fill and transform into works of art. 

The building also provides ample opportunity for students to build community within the TETC, with many inspiring nooks and corners for students to connect and collaborate. These areas are outfitted with buildable plywood furniture, giving students the freedom to design the look and function of their communal spaces on their own.

Design elements include themes from the STEM world, providing teachable moments at every turn. A large periodic table serves as display cases to showcase student work, wayfinding resembles chemical elements, and life-size wall graphics take the form of key formulas used in chemistry and computer programming . Mixed in are intentional open spaces that allow students to ideate, test prototypes, learn from each other, and display their work.

The pilot TETC, complete with a Laser-Cutting Studio, Chemistry Lab, Digital Garage, Computer Lab, Robotics/Electronics Lab, and 3D Printing Lab, ensures that students have the ability to explore, design, experiment, and build.