Harold Clark Simmons Hall

Dedicated in February 2016, Harold Clark Simmons Hall stands as a testament to education and community impact. This three-story building at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas, houses classrooms, offices, and a design center. Harold Clark Simmons Hall is more than just bricks and mortar. It represents a vision brought to life by Annette Caldwell Simmons and her late husband, Harold C. Simmons. Their $25 million donation funded not only the building, but also three endowed academic positions. This building, designed in SMU’s signature collegiate Georgian style, blends seamlessly with the surrounding campus. Inside, you’ll find the Budd Center: Involving Communities in Education. The Department of Teaching and Learning and the Teacher Development Studio also call Harold Clark Simmons Hall home. The innovative design extends to the building’s features. Imagine working in a technologically advanced laboratory, simulating classroom environments through interaction with avatars and gaming. Or picture yourself attending an event in the flexible, 200-seat multipurpose event space on the ground level. This space can even be transformed into two 72-seat classrooms. The architects, Perkins&Will, incorporated unique design elements. Massive cast stone columns, spanning all four floors, dominate the front elevation. An elaborate balustrade system complements the architectural stone cladding. The construction also involved overcoming some interesting challenges. For example, the oversized columns required custom molds and precise CNC machining. The team even had to improvise when the structural steel for the entry porticoes was slightly off, requiring a quick redesign and fabrication of cast stone. Harold Clark Simmons Hall earned its place in architectural history. It won awards in 2016 from the Cast Stone Institute for Design Excellence and Manufacturing Excellence. It also received the 2017 Golden Trowel Award for educational buildings. This hall serves as a hub for future teachers and leaders. They develop and use evidence-based strategies in education, furthering Harold C. Simmons’ lifelong commitment to learning.