University of Texas at Austin Santa Rita Oil Rig
Austin, Texas
Santa Rita No.1 discovery well of the Big Lake Oil Field in West Texas Permian Basin, blew on May 28, 1923. In 1939 a plan was devised to dismantle and relocate the entire rig to the University of Texas campus and reconstruct it exactly as it had originally appeared. The rig spent 18 years in exterior storage, which significantly deteriorated many of its original timber parts.
The rig was partially reconstructed an unveiled to the public in 1958. Architexas was hired by the University to provide a feasibility study and master plan for the rig which included historical research, an existing conditions analysis, conceptual rig plans and landscape plans with options for its relocation, and an estimate of probable cost for each option. Subsequently, Architexas was hired to provide full architectural services for a limited scope of work to provide a function restoration.
