A Bright Spot in Office Projects and Some OPA!
HBJ Landmark Award Winner
It’s official: the John Cooper School of Rock Math + Science Center won the top award in the Educational Facility category of the 2017 HBJ Landmark Awards. This STEM facility designed by Ziegler Cooper Architects adds 56,000 s.f. to the school’s campus in The Woodlands. It is positioned to serve as the fourth side of the masterplanned middle/upper school outdoor quad. Inside, each classroom is designed to function as both lab and lecture space. A central 3-story forum provides vertical circulation and contains additional collaboration space. Congratulations to the whole team on this honor!
More Opa! in 2018
Many Houstonians may recognize this cathedral as the site of the beloved Greek Festival. But Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral is also one of the largest Greek Orthodox communities in the United States. The parish was founded in 1917 and has been at the Yoakum/Montrose site since 1952. Funding is 90% complete for a $12.5 million expansion that is planned for a spring 2018 completion. Working with Philip Johnson Alan Ritchie Architects, PRISM developed several renderings to help the fundraising. The expansion includes a larger sanctuary that will provide much needed additional seating. A 40-foot dome will stretch across the entire roof of the cathedral, a “representation of the incarnation of Christ,” according to Father Michael Lambakis.
Office Interior Renovations on the Rise
The worst may be over for Houston’s office market. Colliers International anticipates the sector to be stable yet flat in 2017, according to their most recent forecast report. Of the 1.6 million s.f. of space under construction, 42% is pre-leased, 43% is build-to-suit and the rest is spec, with about 10% of that pre-leased. Recent announcements for pre-leased space in these new buildings indicate a preference for more innovative space. Does the building have to be new to have innovative work space? At PRISM, we’ve seen an increase in Class A office interior renovations over the past several months. As the energy sector layoffs continue to decline and corporate relocations continue, we anticipate more demand for renderings and animations of major renovation projects. In marketing to prospective new tenants, detailed renderings and animations can show the impact of new finishes, greater amenities and improved circulation. When Exxon Mobil vacated 215,000 s.f. at Three Greenway Plaza, Cousins Properties invested $5 million into updating the lobby and concourse levels. Such investment kept the campus over 90% leased during the turbulence of the past few years. Cousins used our animation to showcase and market the improvements at Three Greenway Plaza.
ICSC RECon Coming Up
The world’s largest retail real estate convention is less than one month away. Are you ready for ICSC RECon? Do you have developments underway that need tenants? Or projects planned that require additional funding? Clients have already approached us about new images needed to maximize their exposure at RECon. PRISM can help meet your specific goals with renderings and animations tailored to your needs. Let’s discuss over lunch, our treat!
Riding for a Cure
Last call for MS150 riders! If you are planning to pedal to Austin this weekend, we will gladly support your fundraising efforts (and be amazed by your endurance and athleticism!) Please email Sarah Amos for more info,
