Built in 1950, the historic Gragg Building has been used by the Houston Parks and Recreation Department as its headquarters since 1976. Originally designed by Houston architecture firm MacKie & Kamrath, it exhibits the influence of notable American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Photo: Jeff Fitlow, Fitlow Photography Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards Recent work includes significant renovations to the Gragg Building’s exterior and interior public spaces, bringing more daylight and open views into the previously dark interior. Architects HarrisonKornberg combined new finishes with many reused materials, such as mahogany veneer panels on the interior and the building’s signature green
Hurricane Ike, the third most destructive hurricane to hit the U.S., severely damaged much of the landscape and buildings of Galveston, Texas. Several areas along the Port Bolivar section of the Gulf Coast Intracoastal Waterway that are designated as dredged material placement areas (as well as nearby Wildlife Management Areas along the Trinity River in Wallisville) were heavily impacted by hurricane debris. Many of these placement areas were rendered unusable for dredged material placement until cleared of debris and repaired. This posed a problem because the waterway requires near constant dredging to maintain the depths required for commercial shipping craft.
The Hurst Senior Activity Center’s new home was born from the adaptive reuse of a 1970s big-box retail store. Photo: Roger Hein Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards The transformation of the former Cavender’s Boot Store into the new senior center included retaining a majority of the existing structure and exterior concrete tilt-wall to reduce construction cost, time and landfill waste. The use of local material suppliers bolstered the economy and returned tax revenue to the tax base in the form of a community service. The interior has been transformed into an airy, open venue with a vibrant color palette
Among the challenges faced by the team during construction of the West Irving Aquatic Center, which includes a lap pool, waterslides, liesure pool and children’s wading pool, was extremely cold weather. Photo: Thomas Mcconnell Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards Although not known for ice and snow, Irving had more than its share of rain, snow and ice, causing 78 weather days on the project during the construction period. The wet weather made the soil too unstable to allow construction traffic back in the area, slowing the work restart. The cold caused delays for the pool piping, at times holding
The JW Marriott Hill Country Resort and Spa’s compressed schedule was the biggest challenge on the project. The original opening date was moved from March 2010 to January to accommodate the Texas Open Golf tournament that would be using the adjacent courses the following month. Photo: Austin Commercial Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards Obstacles encountered during the project included incorporating the architect’s design with Marriott design standards while still keeping the project within budget and on track. The number of changes throughout the project required the GC/CM, Austin Commercial, to work closely with the architect and owner to price
The popularity of the Jack E. Singley Academy of Irving, originally built in 2001, prompted a 64,000-sq-ft addition and 7,000-sq-ft renovation project. The job increased the total size of the school to 262,760 sq ft. Photo: Charter Builders Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards The general contractor, Charter Builders, had to deal with a jobsite just large enough for the new building. Additionally, the existing fire lane surrounding the addition and the rest of the campus had to remain so that the fire department had access around the entire school at all times. Laydown area was only 60 parking spaces,
The 65-ft-tall Jerry Fay Wilhelm Center for the Performing Arts is the first performing arts center in Bastrop County as well as its tallest building. Photo:Clem Spalding Photography Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards The steel-framed facility was constructed under the construction-manager-at-risk delivery method and is built with brick, stone and stucco veneer on CMU and metal studs. The lobby is a wood beam and decking structure enclosed with a large glass curtain wall. The project was completed on schedule and more than $10,000 under budget. One of the project’s primary challenges revolved around site location. The site is located
Tucked into the woods, the new LEED-silver certified Kingwood Branch Library features large windows overlooking the forested landscape. Photo: Geoff Lyon Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards The library has spacious meeting rooms; specialized rooms for teens and children; and more room for books than the current library. The design for the two-story, 30,000-sq-ft building leaves 70% of the site as a forested green space. SpawGlass, the general contractor, recycled 83% of construction materials, including concrete, wood, sheetrock, metal studs, paper and steel. The team used regional materials throughout the building. The bioflow in the parking lot creates drainage so
The LBJ Library Plaza Renovation and Lady Bird Johnson Center provided a facelift and upgrades to the presidential library at the University of Texas at Austin. Photo:Roy Mata Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards An important component of the project was to stop water infiltration into the auditorium and other areas of the building located below the main plaza. Water infiltration had been a constant problem since the building’s completion in 1971. Cleaning and masonry repairs were performed on the 10-story library tower along with new exterior lighting to showcasethe architecturally iconic structures. A new waterproofing system and new granite
The LEED Office Facility for Transition (or LOFT) at the Johnson Space Center complex in Houston is the first new building at JSC in more than 17 years and the largest construction project undertaken by NASA during the same period. Photo: Courtesy Of Satterfield & Ponitkes Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards The three-story, 83,000-sq-ft building, which houses more than 500 NASA employees, was designed to achieve LEED-platinum certification. The LOFT is one of the first buildings in Houston and the first NASA structure to seek LEED platinum. It will be the first LEED-certified building at JSC and the first
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