The architectural firm OMA is transforming a historic 1930s industrial landmark in Texas into a dynamic new hub for creative learning. Known for pushing the boundaries of spatial design, OMA is currently leading the adaptive reuse of the former J.A. Folger & Co. coffee plant in Houston, converting the sprawling industrial facility into the Frank Liu Jr. Academy for Music and Arts (FLAMA). Designed as a tuition-free public charter school centered around music, artistic expression, and community engagement, the 6,050-square-meter project introduces a forward-thinking educational model rooted in collective cultural experiences.
Spearheaded by OMA partner Jason Long and project architect Salome Nikuradze, the ambitious development is situated along Houston’s rapidly evolving Buffalo Bayou East corridor, positioned directly across from the future Turkey Bend development. By breathing new life into a neglected piece of industrial heritage, the project demonstrates how historic architecture can be thoughtfully repurposed to serve modern civic and educational needs. Rather than demolishing the structure to make way for conventional school buildings, the design team chose to work within the existing framework, using the building’s industrial scale and robust character to shape an innovative, interconnected learning environment.
FLAMA Organizes Learning Around Shared Spaces
At the heart of FLAMA’s architectural concept is an organizational strategy that arranges its academic programs across three distinct stories, corresponding to the developmental stages of its student body. Younger children occupy the lower levels of the building, while older students progress upward through the facility as they advance in their education. Inspired by Montessori principles, which emphasize independence, self-directed activity, and collaborative learning, OMA designed the school around a series of fluid, shared environments referred to as “neighborhoods.”
Rather than relying on isolated, double-loaded corridors designed solely for movement between enclosed rooms, the architecture integrates circulation and shared space into the daily educational experience. Each floor is anchored by two central gathering zones, poetically dubbed “cymbals,” around which classrooms, music practice rooms, and academic facilities are clustered. These expansive commons spaces are intentionally versatile, accommodating informal gatherings, independent study sessions, collaborative project work, and impromptu performances. By allowing everyday school activities to overlap and intersect, the design fosters a sense of community and shared purpose among students, teachers, and visitors alike.
Music Shapes the Architecture
Music is not merely part of the curriculum at FLAMA; it actively shapes the physical architecture of the school. On the ground level, the youngest students share an intimate common area dedicated to play, movement, and drum circles, aligning with the Montessori focus on physical coordination and sensory development. Nearby, children in grades one and two gather around a larger open space featuring a sculptural staircase that curves gracefully like a French horn, providing a natural setting for informal presentations and group activities.
As students move to the upper floors, the spatial character shifts to accommodate more focused study and collaborative learning. Students in grades three through five utilize an open library furnished with flexible, adaptable seating that supports group projects and after-school programs. Directly above, a second library commons serves students in grades six through eight, offering quieter, more concentrated zones for independent academic work.
These two distinct libraries are visually and acoustically connected through a striking floor opening shaped like the letter “f.” This custom cutout serves multiple roles: it references the classic forte symbol used in musical notation, echoes the f-shaped sound holes found on string instruments, and nods to the academy’s own name. Beyond its symbolic resonance, the opening creates a vertical link between floors, allowing natural daylight and ambient sound to filter through the two learning environments.
At the core of the school, a double-height cafetorium acts as the ultimate gathering space for daily meals, school-wide assemblies, and larger musical performances. Complete with a large circular opening and a curved auditorium staircase that recall the body of a banjo, the space transforms a routine school cafeteria into an inspiring venue for collective gathering and artistic expression.
Bringing Daylight into an Industrial Structure
One of the primary architectural challenges in converting a heavy industrial coffee plant into a school was introducing sufficient natural daylight deep into the building’s footprint. OMA resolved this by positioning traditional classrooms along the building’s exterior perimeter, ensuring that every learning space has direct access to exterior windows and natural light. To illuminate the central shared spaces and interior zones, the design introduces a series of new circular skylights that pierce the roof structure.
At the same time, the project preserves and honors the site’s industrial history. The historic windows along the street-facing facades have been meticulously restored and upgraded to meet contemporary energy performance standards. On the interior, a newly landscaped courtyard introduces a playful, human-scale element to the stark industrial surroundings. Featuring colorful geometric window divisions and vibrant plantings, the courtyard bridges the gap between the building’s manufacturing past and its vibrant new identity as an educational sanctuary.
Project Details and Collaborative Team
The realization of the Frank Liu Jr. Academy for Music and Arts is the result of a multidisciplinary collaboration involving a team of engineering, design, and development experts. The project is backed by client Lovett Commercial, with architectural execution led by OMA New York partner Jason Long and project architect Salome Nikuradze. RDLR Architects serves as the architect of record, bringing local expertise to the complex adaptive reuse undertaking.
The extensive design scope is further supported by SWA Group, which handled the landscape architecture, and IMEG, which provided structural engineering services. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems were engineered by DBR Engineering, while acoustic design—crucial for a facility centered around music education—was managed by Salas O’Brien. Spanning 6,050 square meters (65,120 square feet), the completed academy promises to stand as a landmark example of how historic preservation and innovative educational design can intersect in the heart of Houston.
