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
Original plans for the four-story UTD Living Learning Center called for a concrete frame with a commons area built of structural steel. As planning progressed, the budget was stretched thin, and the structure of the student housing facility was changed to bed wings with the common area remaining structural steel. Photo: Austin Commercial Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards Unfortunately, the mechanical and plumbing systems were drawn to fit in the structure as it was originally designed, and they would not fit similarly in a stick-frame system. The mechanical and plumbing subcontractors were brought on board early to help find
Building amidst occupied structures was one of the greatest challenges facing the SPJST Assisted Living Facility’s project team. New construction surrounded all sides of the existing facility while two new wings were added on the north and south ends of the building. Photo: Thomas Mcconnell Of Thomas Mcconnell Photography Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards An expanded entry and a porte cochere were added on the east elevations of the building. The west elevation required grading and new sidewalk work, as well as a separate storage facility. Strict scheduling and coordination were required to avoid impacting the current residents. Everyone
Significant architectural, structural, and mechanical changes were made after the permit set was approved and construction had started on the Remington Medical Resort of Richardson. Revisions were made to lower the overall budget of the skilled nursing/rehabilitation facility without sacrificing the finish quality. Photo: Erick Magowan, Ebco Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards Changes included switching metal floor and roof joists to hollow-core concrete planks; removing the spiral staircase, skylight and atrium; increasing floor-to-floor heights; moving the chiller from the ground floor to the first floor roof; and removing the kitchenette at the third floor during construction. The hollow-core concrete
The recent expansion project at the Methodist Charlton Medical Center—the center’s largest to date—adds 286,000 sq ft to the current hospital. Photo: Ron St. Angelo Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards The nine-story tower includes mechanical, patient, and operating rooms; office, support staff, registration, and discharge areas; and four floors of shelled space. Connection of the new bed tower to the existing hospital without disrupting ongoing services presented early challenges during the foundation work. The project requirements dictated that Austin Commercial, the GC/CM, provide a slab-on-grade on top of 10 ft of select fill. An engineer and team provided the
The Northwest Rail Operating Facility project is a maintenance and rail-yard facility for the Green Line and future Orange Line of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Light Rail System. The 34-acre NWROF site consists of five projects, or “lots,” each constructed by a different general contractor. Photo: Les Wollam Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards Archer Western’s portion of the work is a 90,000-sq-ft, three-story service and inspection building, a train car cleaning platform, a “Super Light Rail Vehicle” car-wash facility and paving. The service and inspection building provides essential rail maintenance functions such as minor repairs and preventive maintenance.
This renovation project brings the Byrne-Reed House back to its original glory while stabilizing the building and introducing modern mechanical systems. Photo: Journeyman Construction Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards The 10,000-sq-ft residence was built at the turn of the 20th century. The renovation brings it back to its original look with an addition on the service side housing a new elevator and stair structure. In the early 1970s, the home’s porches were closed in and a plaster facade and colonnade were added, completely transforming the appearance of the exterior while it was used as a commercial property. The project
The Compass Plaza tenant improvement project brings together three Capstar-owned companies on three floors of one mixed-use building, improving efficiency, facilitating communications, standardizing procedures and providing scalable growth opportunities for the companies. Photo: John Thomas, John Thomas Photography Related Links: Best of 2010 Awards The project in Austin included tenant build-out of 82,000 sq ft of interior space on floors six, seven and eight. The eighth floor of Capstar at Compass Plaza, occupied by Capstar Investment Partners, is seeking LEED-silver certification for commercial interiors. Some of the many sustainable project features include dual-flush toilets, aerated faucets and high-efficiency base building
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