With the completion of its Thermal Energy Storage Facility project, the University of Texas has one of the most cost-effective and economical central heating and power district energy plants in the world. Photo: Roy Mata Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards The project involved construction and complete installation of a 4-million-gallon steel thermal-energy storage tank. The project included sitework, drilled piers, structural slab, steel-tank construction, insulation systems, protective guardrailing, tappings for piping and controls, and associated filling and testing. The work is part of the university’s energy-efficiency initiative. Working around existing utilities proved to be a challenge for the project
Barney Davis and Nueces Bay are two sites about 20 mi apart on the Gulf Coast. Photo:Lanman Aerial Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards When Topaz commissioned Zachry, the general contractor, to re-power these plants on brownfield sites, Zachry faced challenges ranging from aged existing infrastructure, and the need for demolition, to nearby waterlines and a lack of laydown space. Nueces Bay held five existing gas-fired plants built in the 1940s. The plants were on reclaimed dirt from the bay in the 1920s. The site is located adjacent to the ship canal and required massive structure modifications. Reclaimed earth typically
Originally anticipated to receive LEED-silver certification, the 69,988-sq-ft French Family Center addition to Ursuline Academy’s existing campus surpassed expected goals and was awarded LEED gold. Photo: John W. Davis, DVD Design Group Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards The project diverted 76.92% of its waste from landfills, reduced the use of potable water for irrigation by 59.5% and reduced the potable water use in the building by 47.5%. More than 45% of the materials used on the project were harvested or manufactured within 500 mi and 44.36% contained recycled content. The building had an overall energy reduction of 32.7%. A
After a tornado demolished the Valley Missionary Baptist Church in Fort Worth, the congregation learned that insurance money would not replace the structure, or provide additional space for the church’s growing numbers. Photo: The Beck Group Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards The GC/CM, The Beck Group, provided design and construction services at no cost and, aided by community and industry members, delivered a new place of worship big enough to accommodate the entire congregation at the historical location it had called home for the past 100 years. The new structure has 3,500 sq ft of space, more than double
Hotel Sorella, a 244-room, luxury property, is a key anchor for CityCentre, a mixed-use development near Houston’s Westchase and Energy Corridor districts. Photo: Shannon O’hara, Photographer Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards Property highlights include residential-style guest rooms with hardwood floors, a bar featuring a central fireplace and starlit ceiling, rooftop pool with draped cabanas and lush courtyard, and two restaurants. The building is a 12-level, cast-in-place concrete structure with stone masonry and glass exterior. A swimming pool sits on the second-level deck, and an enclosed pedestrian walkway leads to a parking garage. Rising costs near the end of the
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
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