Flexibility among the entire project team was required during construction of the two George P. and Cynthia Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics & Astronomy buildings. The two structures are interconnected and located at the northern edge of Texas A&M University in College Station. Photo: Vito Palmisano Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards The configuration of the plans negotiates the irregular shape of the confined site. One building is a six-story, 43,770-sq-ft elliptical building located at a major campus entrance. It adjoins the second structure, a five-story, 160,000-sq-ft, L-shaped building that wraps around a semicircular, 500-seat main auditorium. Significant changes were
The University of Texas at Austin Welch Hall North Plaza’s renovation involved removing an existing concrete courtyard along with all waterproofing and drainage systems above an existing chemistry library. After removal of the existing system, general contractor Flintco installed a new membrane waterproofing system, new storm drainage system, lightweight insulating concrete deck, a decorative colored concrete topping slab, concrete planters and a drop ceiling in the library. Photo: Roy Mata Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards The work involved an elaborate system to protect thousands of books in the library below, along with extensive coordination to accommodate users of the
The almost 30-year-old sanctuary at the Second Baptist Church Worship Center in Houston was severely damaged during Hurricane Ike and had to be rebuilt as quickly as possible to allow services to resume in the main sanctuary. Photo: Tellepsen Builders Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards Demolition and redesign started in January 2009, and the first service was held just eight months later. The scope of work included complete demolition of all finishes and the installation of new audiovisual systems. The job required the erection of 40,000 sq ft of scaffolding 50-ft high to install new audio/visual and ceiling finishes.
The 10-story, 485,000-sq-ft BioScience Research Collaborative building at Rice University was constructed on 2.9 acres at Main Street and University Boulevard in Houston, immediately adjacent to the Texas Medical Center complex. Photo: Scott Frances Of August Image, New York, NY Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards The building currently offers eight floors that include research labs, classrooms, a 280-seat auditorium, 100-seat seminar room, 10,000 sq ft of retail space and a 338,700-sq-ft, three-level underground parking structure. Two floors of lab shell space allow for future expansion. The base building platform was also designed to support a future second research tower,
A renovation to an existing warehouse created a new corporate headquarters for Brandt, a top mechanical, electrical and plumbing provider in Texas. The 112,300-sq-ft adaptive reuse project retained more than 80% of the existing walls, floors and roof. It also incorporated 18 eco-friendly and energy saving technologies, such as the use of cool roofing materials; natural daylight strategies; the use of water efficient, native and adaptive landscaping materials; rainwater harvesting; a solar water heating system; and the use of a thermal well system for air conditioning. Cork flooring, Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood and other rapidly renewable building materials were the
The Brigade Headquarters building contains three secure sections that require uninterrupted operation. The sophisticated equipment utilized and sensitive data generated in these sections requires a backup emergency power generator and redundant mechanical systems in order to remain fully operational in the event of a catastrophic failure. Photo: Pablo Mason Photography Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards The construction coordination issues for redundant systems are extremely costly, and installation and control of the systems is complex. The Harper Construction Co. design-build team successfully completed these secure sections within budget and schedule, and all systems are fully functional. The requirements of the
The Cibolo Green Elementary School is one of the first “green” schools in the North East Independent School District and the greater San Antonio area. Photo: Satterfield & Pontikes Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards The energy-efficient school was built to meet LEED-silver standards, which include improved air-quality systems, the use of recycled and nontoxic building materials and energy-saving systems. The upbeat environment boasts nine different wall colors, flooring with multicolored patterns, and natural light. The general contractor, Satterfield & Pontikes, built many unusual features, including learning centers with windows into mechanical rooms. In-wall windows allow students to see elements
General contractor McCarthy implemented fast-track construction methods in an effort to complete the job in only 23 months. The 2.1-million-sq-ft project includes two towers, one 15 stories, the other seven, and a 3,500-car parking structure. Photo: John Davis, DVDesign Group Inc. Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards In order to beat the proposed schedule, it achieving phased building dry-in was critical so interior finishes could start. McCarthy planned for staged temporary dry-in as the work progressed, installing temporary protective measures for a horizontal water barrier at the third, seventh and 12th floors, as well as vertical temporary measures around the
Construction of the new 1,200-seat sanctuary and administrative offices at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Nassau Bay, Texas, required careful planning because the new construction was added onto the existing facility, which had to remain in full use during construction. Photo: John C. Lindy Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards Work was carefully sequenced throughout the fast-track project so that the worship space was never out of commission. Hurricane Ike hit in September 2008 when the structural frame of the building was being completed. The project is located 12 mi from the point where the hurricane made landfall,
PROJECT COST: $50,852,581 Photo: Harper Construction Co. Trainee Complex Upgrade - DFAC/Starship Barracks Related Links: Top Project Starts 1-25 Top Project Starts 26-55 This design-build project includes construction of two new dining facilities and the conversion of three existing barracks into classrooms in support of Fort Sill Army Post’s mission to train troops in military systems and operations. The objective was to design and build a training facility with dining halls and classrooms similar to those of a college or university. Each dining facility is a 56,000-sq-ft, single-story, stand-alone structure equipped to feed 2,600 trainee soldiers meals within 90 minutes,
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