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Design Award/Architect
Winners Honored
Seven projects and their designers were recently recognized
at a special ceremony held during the Texas Society of Architects'
64th Annual Convention and Design Products Expo at the Fort
Worth Convention Center.
The annual competition honors outstanding architectural projects
by practicing architects in Texas.
The winning projects were chosen from 271 entries by nationally
prominent architects, Michael McCall, principal of his own
firm in San Francisco; Dan Rockhill, professor of architecture
at the University of Kansas; and, Maryann Thompson, founder
of Maryann Thompson Architects, Cambridge, Mass., were the
judges for the design awards competition.
The winning projects and architects of TSA 2003 Design Awards
competition are:
Austin Convention Center Expansion, Austin
By Page Southerland Page Architects, Austin
Highly refined in its materials and detailing, this addition
links the existing facility to adjacent entertainment districts.
The main entry is punctuated by a sophisticated array of blue-tinted
solar panels that is as much a work of public art as a technical
solution to energy efficiency.
Marcus B Armijo Library Addition, El Paso
By Alvidrez Architecture, El Paso
An elegant in-fill project enclosed an exterior courtyard
to create a children's reading room, encompassing a dramatic
mural depicting Latino achievements from the pre-Colombian
era to the Space Age.
House by a Pond, Dallas
By Max Levy Architects, Dallas
Flowing water becomes a design element that connects this
beautifully rendered home to its site. Downspouts merge in
the open-dog-run to send rainwater coursing down alongside
a stepped pathway.
Retail Prototype: Goodwill, Austin
By Team Haas Architects, Austin
Seeking to upgrade its image from a thrift store selling castoff
goods, Goodwill Industries asked the architect to design a
kit of parts that included interior layout and exterior signage.
The result is a cleverly detailed storefront that has tripled
sales.
Round Valley Office Building & Garage, Houston
By Architectworks, Houston
The client needed a place to work on his expensive cars, but
also lease space next door to generate income. Simple materials
are gracefully woven together in a low-key project that exceeds
the requirements for most speculative buildings.
Sunlit House, Dallas
By Max Levy Architects, Dallas
Set far back from the street on a non-descript suburban tract,
this Modern Style residence offers protected views to the
outdoors and shelters its occupants within refined interior
spaces.
Twin Peaks, Austin
By M.J. Neal Architects, Austin
Two tall, narrow structures next door to each other, these
homes feature an assortment of bright colors and a broad palette
of materials. Both homes bring the outdoors inside through
ground-level screen porches and upper-level patios set within
the site's canopy of trees.
DART budget approved
Dallas Area Rapid Transit's Board of Directors has adopted
a FY 2004 operating budget (including capital planning and
development costs) of $308.5 million -- 6% lower than the
$328.2 million in FY 2003.
To reduce its operating budget, DART eliminated 102 full-time
salaried positions in early September as part of a program
of lowering administrative and non-operating costs. The
budget also includes an additional one-year delay in the
rail expansion to Farmers Branch, Carrollton, Las Colinas,
DFW Airport, Deep Ellum, Fair Park, South Dallas, Pleasant
Grove and Rowlett through 2014.
The budget reductions and rail expansion delays are in response
to the economic downturn and its impact on receipts from
the DART one-cent sales tax. This is the third year of sales
tax revenue declines with an anticipated shortfall of approximately
$20 million. Sales taxes represent 81 percent of DART's
total sources of funds available for operations.
Other savings were made through bus and rail service modifications
reductions driven by ridership demand, and cuts in program
development expenses. Other cost-containment moves included
a voluntary early retirement program, a freeze on employee
merit raises and the elimination of contractor-provided
bus service. The budget increases spending for paratransit
services for customers with mobility impairments and DART
Police.
Sandvick Equipment Opens Austin
Office
Sandvick Equipment & Supply Company recently opened
a new branch located at 3511 Manor Road, Austin, TX, 78723.
Since 1965, Sandvick Equipment has been renting and selling
construction safety equipment and fabricating small steel
structures for contractors, municipalities, counties and
private entities throughout the United States and the world.
The company offers an extensive line of products and services
to fill all underground utility and construction safety
needs.
Headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., Sandvick has locations
in Tucson, Ariz.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Fontana, Calif. and Arlington.
Richard Gresham is the new Austin branch manager.
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