ELLEN NOËL ART MUSEUM
Odessa, Texas | Civic
Founded as a nonprofit in 1977 and opening in 1985, the Ellen Noël Art Museum of the Permian Basin (ENAM) was established through dedicated community efforts to bring fine arts to the region. Renamed in 1995 to honor Ellen W. Noël’s leadership and philanthropy, the museum is now undergoing a major renovation.
The expansion includes a striking spiral staircase, increased gallery space, and distinctive architectural enhancements. However, site constraints limit available space, making efficient design essential. To maintain openness and enhance the visitor experience, the project prioritizes minimizing vehicle-dedicated areas while ensuring accessibility. A key challenge is integrating an access drive between the west and east portions of the building without disrupting the museum’s artistic façade.
To address this, the main drive will function as a plaza with a seamless, curb-free design, creating an inviting entry while preserving pedestrian flow. Parking will be reconfigured for efficiency, pushed farther from the building, and enhanced with landscaped areas that strengthen connections to the UTPB campus. Native stone and plantings will further anchor the building within its natural setting, while an expanded sculpture garden and additional site-specific artwork will enrich the museum’s outdoor experience.
Project Team | RJ Lopez, AIA, ALEP – Client Manager / Design Architect | Dan Searight, AIA, RID, LEED AP – Senior Design Architect | James Njuguna, AIA, MBA, LEED AP – Project Architect | Zach Garrett, PE – Structural Engineer | Blane Potts, PLA, ASLA, CLARB – Landscape Architecture Design Lead | Ty Sisco, RLA, ASLA – Project Manager | Cameron Beeman, ASLA – Designer
Work completed while employed with Parkhill – Renderings by Potts Design Group LLC