THE AWARDS

THE 2019 AWARDeeS

Project of the Year:
advanced green builder demonstration project
submitted by : center for maximum potential building systems (cmpbs)
owner : center for maximum potential building systems (cmpbs)

The Advanced Green Builder Demonstration (AGBD) project was conceived as a bold manifestation of a fundamental rethink of the way buildings are designed, constructed and operated, with six, visionary protocols (described below) used as the overarching framework: Ecobalance, Biophilia, Flexible Building Systems, Visible Green, Low Carbon/Embodied Energy and Life Cycle Design.

AGBD was completed in 1998 and serves as office space and design studio. It is frequently used by other civic groups and educational programs looking for an inspiring venue in which to hold meetings and symposia. The building is a focal point for tours of school groups, ranging from pre-school to university graduate students, and to professional organizations.

“This is a small scale, inspirational, beautiful building, intrinsically connected to the region. It meets all the benchmarks, backed up with performance metrics, and provides an accessible, public model of how to build in the region. This 21-year old building hits all the marks. It is designed for place, ecology and is more advanced than most contemporary projects. Pretty spectacular.” judge's quote

Credit: paul bardagjy

PROJECT OF THE YEAR:
texas mutual insurance company headquarters
submitted by : studio8 architects
owner : texas mutual insurance company

Located in the amenity-rich and transit-oriented community of the Mueller Development, pedestrian interaction and the urban context of the site influenced the architectural material palette, scale and organization of public spaces, including a shared breezeway. After outgrowing their existing facility, the design team was tasked with creating a transparent and safe workplace for Texas Mutual’s new headquarters that accommodated the consolidation of over 600 employees, encouraged collaboration and social interaction, attracted and retained new talent, and provided flexibility for growth. Promoting well-being and fostering the Texas Mutual culture were driving factors in the spatial organization and key elements of the design. Daylighting, natural materials, and a biophilic approach utilizing materials that mimic natural patterns were implemented throughout. Social spaces were sporadically placed to encourage movement across floors, a multi-story green wall, and a courtyard and rooftop terrace with Wi-Fi connection encouraged employees to be connected to each other and to nature.

“It’s difficult to pull off a building of this scale that is underpinned by impressive goals while aligning with financial and regulatory constraints of a standard office building. It provides a welcoming environment to occupants, and speaks to the broader Mueller development in terms of community connectivity, varying scales, and, importantly, animating the park.” judge's quote

Credit: lars frazer

mary elizabeth branch park
submitted by : design workshop, inc.
owner : catellus development cooperation

Mary Elizabeth Branch Park is a 3.5-acre park in the heart of the Mueller development in Austin. The park was designed to accommodate the various recreation needs of a mixed-use, multi-generational community. The challenge was to provide a place that felt comfortable for a range of user groups. Opened in May 2019, Branch Park features a creative children’s playground, a dog run, a sand volleyball court, an interactive waterscape, and open lawn space and shady areas for picnics. In keeping with the overall spirit of Mueller, Branch Park demonstrates leadership in design, sustainable practices, community relevance and economic support within Mueller’s town center.

The social and land use context of the site were the main drivers of the design. Developing a new park site with no public history required careful study of who might end up using the park, when they might be there and what they might be looking to do. Forming a design around these factors helped to ensure the program resonates with visitors and is contextually appropriate. Land uses surrounding the park include townhomes, apartments, retail and office buildings. The park is a natural convergence point for the diverse areas of the overall development. It is located at a likely intersection of local park users and destination park users. This dynamic formed the approach for the entire park structure and program mix.

“Impressive integration of multiple, compelling story lines: appropriate plant species, water cycle and conscientious water use, austin's cultural history, and thoughtful material selection.” judge's quote

Credit: brandon huttenlocher / design workshop, inc.

upcycle
submitted by : gensler
owner : everwest real estate partners

Positioned at the heart of vibrant East Austin, an old single-story warehouse was converted into creative office, and reincarnated as a vibrant neighborhood hub. Built in 1972, the 65,000 square foot warehouse’s unique appearance was preserved while transforming the structure into a modern space optimized for collaboration. Updates include an additional 16,000 square feet of mezzanine space, new insulated roof with clerestories and skylights, new insulated metal panel enclosure, high-efficiency mechanical systems, common core restrooms, large windows, residential scale porches, and glass roll-up garage doors to provide greater access to the outdoors. A new entry lounge, created from a converted boxcar and placed on the building’s original railroad tracks, incorporates the colorful history of the location, and opens the space up for engagement with the community. Local artists whose work had been discovered in the abandoned structure were engaged to create new art, giving UPCycle an aesthetic and experience that is uniquely East Austin.

“A TERRIFC EXAMPLE OF ADAPTIVE REUSE, ACTIVATING AN EXISTING BUILDING FOR CONTEMPORARY USE, IN A LOCATION WITH PROXIMITY TO TRANSIT AND OTHER COMMUNITY AMENITIES.” judge's quote