This design competition entry was in collaboration with Lo-Fi Architecture, Core Ventures, and Centerpoint Builders.  Designed as a self sustaining city block, the building systems work together to achieve maximum effectiveness, cost control, and sustainability.

This solution explored the idea of using discarded shipping containers as a viable construction material.  With a surplus of containers readily available, the concept included not only the “up-cycling” of a waste product but the ability for a modular, organic growth as demand is met without disruption to the current tenants, which include retail, residential, and community uses.

Additionally, a parking garage was proposed that met the realities of the culture of Dallas, Texas today while being flexible enough to lower parking capacity as the demand allowed and increase space for on-site farming.

A two phase construction approach was proposed in order to meet standard equity return requirements at the time.  The concept allowed for equity to recover a considerable amount before reinvestment into other sustainable technologies, responding to the realities of both financial and construction challenges.

The Wilson Building, built in 1903, is a twelve story office building at the intersection of Main Street and Akard in Downtown Dallas originally designed by Sanguinet & Staats of Fort Worth.

In 1999, the building was converted to 135 loft apartments – the first adaptive reuse of its kind in Dallas.  The project  included restoring the original facade of the building, and met the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.

David Gunderson and Tyler Adams worked on this project while employed at Corgan, Associates.