First Christian Church at Allen (designed by MAA)
Part of our work is intertwined with the work of Centerpoint Builders. A current project, First Christian Church in Allen, is a great example of that. As construction project manager, this author is able to work as a Centerpoint representative. This type of arrangement allows us to have up to date, first hand construction expertise.
This project is designed by the great folks at Merriman, Associates, Architects, inc. It is the first phase in a 4 acre site which will have a large sanctuary and other functions as the site develops. For now, Phase I will serve as a sanctuary and multi-use building. The project is designed with a high performance envelope, sustainable landscape and irrigation system, and sustainable interior materials, among others. Although the project is under a tight budget, the design and construction team was able to continue to use the LEED building rating system as a guide to give the client a sustainable solution.
Our position as a private label architect working with Centerpoint allows us the opportunity to collaborate with other architects on many different levels. Even though some are hesitant at first (are we a competitor…?), our open, collaborative way of doing business always ends up being an enjoyable project experience with great outcomes.
Visit this blog for current construction photos and the status of First Christian Church of Allen.
CASA Parade of Homes – Stagehaus
In collaboration with Centerpoint Builders, we helped build a playhouse for the CASA parade of playhouses. This particular house was part of a design competition put on by AIA Dallas’ Young Architects Forum. We had missed the actual competition, but was happy to build the project. Our winning design was by two talented people at Corgan, Assocaites, Anita Delgado and Lorena Holguin. We started a month behind, but somehow got the project out on time and without many changes. The final product looked great, even though I was very nervous that we would not make the deadline. But, everything went off without a hitch – other than the fact that this author got a major sunburn from working on it all day in 106 degree weather without any hint of shade in MultiFraming’ construction yard. Multiframing has done a lot of work with Centerpoint and procured much of the labor and materials for this project.
Day 2 - Structural Frame Complete
Day Four - Painting Frame.
Cedar Floor, Stained and ready for install
Read more…
Canton and Ervay Mixed Use Proposal
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.
Suburban Redevelopment
Ellen Dunham-Jones gives a presentation on how the next 50 years will be spent retrofitting the suburbs at TEDx Atlanta (January 2010).
Facts presented:
- Ratio associated with carbon footprints associated with urban vs. suburban dwellers: 1:3
- Suburbs have doubled the amount we drive
- CDC has linked suburban living with sedentary lifestyle
- ½ of households in Atlanta spend 29% of their income on housing and 32% on transportation (2005 figures).
- Through 2025, 75-85% of new households will not have kids in them, meaning focus will turn toward non-family households.
She goes on further to show projects which redevelop “dead malls,” underperforming retail, empty big box. Goes further to show how cities have connected redevelopments and created ways to restore their original ecology. She looks to municipalities to determine what should be “re-greened,” restored, or redeveloped. Watch the video for the good stuff.
Joppa Rodeo Project
This is a project that we are working on with The Real Estate Council. It has been a little slow to get off of the ground, but we are finally picking um momentum and it looks like it will be a great project.
Concept Perspective
Form the site:
Our dream for this center is to provide a rodeo arena, horse trails, community gardens, a neighborhood park, and facilities where the youth can learn resiliency skills to resist negative peer influence. Please help make this vision a reality and help at-risk youth become “Ready and Forward”. Your contribution can make the difference in the lives to the youth of Dallas County. Through your generosity to the Joppa Rodeo project, you are giving several young people the opportunity to develop character through self empowerment.
Lake Pointe Orthopaedics
This medical office building is part of a hospital campus in Rockwall, Texas. It was designed to not only add to the upscale suburb’s rich character, but to compliment the design of the hospital and set a standard for the remainder of the campus.
As the design-builder, Centerpoint was able to control costs while producing a green product well within the budget, which was originally set using standard construction methods. By using structural insulated panels (SIPs), high performance glazing, and reflective roofing, the building shell has a high insulating value while maintaining an extremely tight envelope. The result is a high performance building which is less expensive to operate, less prone to leaks, and faster to build – without adding to the construction budget.
Lake Pointe Medical Arts at Rowlett
As one of the newest developments through the main thoroughfare of Rowlett, Lakeview Parkway, Lake Pointe Medical Arts has a strong presence in the heart of the city.
Lake Pointe Medial Center included several outpatient services in the company as well as a new oncology center serving the area.
Tyler Adams designed the shell of this project while employed at McCalla Rios.
Boca Clinic
The Boca Clinic is the first facility of its kind in South Florida. The project includes multiple doctors offices, a sophisticated imaging center, central lab, rehab facility, and an ambulatory surgery center.
Beginning as a technology warehouse near the former IBM campus, the building envelope is redesigned featuring a 30-foot glass dome, several new skylights, and a new porte-cochere. The central circulation is a grand promenade featuring 16-foot ceilings and high-end finishes. Each office has been painstakingly detailed to accommodate each practice type.
Located in the heart of Boca Raton, Florida, the facility, wholly-owned by the doctors who practice there, brings physicians from a myriad of different specialty practices under one roof for comprehensive ambulatory care by the leading doctors in one of the most medically advanced areas of the country.
Tyler Adams lead the interior construction and design while employed at McCalla Rios.
Baylor Medical Plaza at North Garland
Affiliated with the Baylor Medical System, this medical office building replaces an aging outpatient surgery center for the nearby hospital with a cutting-edge facility. The surgery center is considered the best that the international operator has developed by their administration and physicians alike, boasting six well-sized operating rooms capable of offering all types of surgeries for ambulatory patients.
Tyler Adams led the shell and interior design and construction of this project while employed at Ascension Group Architects.
Baylor Medical Plaza at Heath
Affiliated with the Baylor Medical System, this medical office building brings much needed high-quality health care to a new, high-income suburb of Dallas. Anchored by a 14,000 square foot surgery center and a large multi-disciplinary practice, this state-of-the-art facility was fully leased months within opening.
Tyler Adams lead the shell and interior design and construction while employed at Ascension Group Architects.
