Texas restaurant Brennan’s of Houston has called this space home since 1967 when it took over the facility from the Junior League and its architect John Staub, who had offices there. Built in 1926, the structure saw a number of renovations and additions over the past eight decades.
After Brennan’s was destroyed by fire in September 2008 by Hurricane Ike, the building needed far-reaching renovation, and the design and construction team had to deal with extensive damage.
During the fire, the majority of the original building floor plans were destroyed, making it difficult for the team to determine as-built and subsurface conditions. Workers found unforeseen grade beams, footings, pipes and structural issues that conflicted with the anticipated design.
The structure required delicate treatment and thorough inspection throughout the building process to reassure the team the facility could handle the anticipated loads the new design would demand.
The team was able to absorb numerous changes, field issues and permitting delays to deliver the facility in time for an annual, prestigious private event in February. The historic landmark opened for business to the public on Fat Tuesday, a famously celebrated day at Brennan’s.
Key Players
Submitted by: Linbeck Group LLC
Owner/developer: Brennan’s of Houston
General contractor: Linbeck Group LLC, Houston
Construction manager: Pin Oak Interests, Houston
Architect: Studio Red, Houston
Civil engineer: Dev-Tex Engineering, Houston
Structural engineer: Pruitt Eberly Stone Engineers, Atlanta
MEP engineer: E&C Engineering, Houston
