Architects Reimagine Donald Judd’s Marfa Office for Climate Resilience

This post examines the recently completed renovation of Donald Judd’s former architecture office in Marfa, Texas. The effort balances historic preservation with contemporary, climate-conscious design.

I’ll walk through the project’s key interventions and the conservation philosophy behind them. There are practical takeaways for architects and engineers working at the intersection of heritage and sustainability.

Table of Contents

Project overview: a careful restoration in a changing climate

The two-story brick building was originally constructed in 1907. Judd renovated it in 1990, but it had deteriorated after his death in 1994.

The Judd Foundation and Troy Schaum of Schaum Architects led a restoration. Their work respected Judd’s minimalist aesthetic and integrated modern, low-energy systems.

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Core goals and guiding principles

The team aimed to preserve the building’s authenticity, keeping raw brick, tin ceilings, and wood floors. They also wanted to increase resilience to the realities of a warming West Texas climate.

Preservation here is about more than appearance. It’s about adapting a historic asset to function safely and sustainably for the next generation.

Key design interventions

Below are the most important technical and material choices. These illustrate how conservation and sustainability were balanced on this project.

What was done

Rooftop solar: Installed to offset electricity use and reduce reliance on grid energy.

Energy-efficient glazing strategy: Single-pane storefront windows were retained for authenticity. They were enhanced with a modern low-e coating to reduce heat gain without altering visual character.

Accoya mahogany frames: Mahogany frames were rebuilt using sustainable Accoya wood. This matched appearance while improving durability and dimensional stability.

Historically accurate metal awning: Added to shade large windows. This nod to pre-air conditioning desert architecture reduces solar load.

Passive cooling and night flushing: Designers prioritized natural ventilation and cool-night flushing. Mechanical air-conditioning is limited to upstairs guest apartments only.

Brickwork repair in Judd’s style: Masonry was carefully repaired to maintain the original texture and patterning. This defines both the interior and exterior character.

Preservation thinking updated for the 21st century

This project shows a shift in conservation practice. The focus moves from strict environmental control to resilience and managed risk.

Preservation experts used temperature fluctuation modeling. This confirmed archival materials would remain safe even when indoor conditions occasionally deviate from museum-ideal ranges.

Why this matters for heritage buildings

Institutions today must weigh the carbon and cost of continuous environmental control. They consider the acceptability of carefully bounded fluctuations.

In Marfa, that balance favored passive strategies and targeted mechanical systems. Protection for vulnerable collections was maintained through modeling and monitoring.

Takeaways for architects and engineers

As someone with three decades in the field, I see several lessons here that apply broadly to adaptive reuse and conservation work:

Respect original fabric: prioritize repair and retention where possible. Materials convey meaning and performance.

Use modern materials discreetly: coatings like low-e on existing glazing or Accoya for frames can improve performance. These upgrades do not change the character of the building.

Prioritize passive climate control: shading, night flushing, and natural ventilation reduce energy use. These strategies also increase resilience.

Model, monitor, and accept managed risk: data-driven decisions about acceptable environmental ranges help align conservation goals with sustainability.

Here is the source article for this story: Architects just remade Donald Judd’s iconic Marfa office for the climate change age