The Coronavirus has been on many people's minds these days. However, it's personal to me. I recently completed the 14-day voluntary quarantine after my annual January trip to China. It was such an unforgettable experience. I was heartbroken and in awe to see the empty streets and closed businesses instead of large crowds and busy shops. Despite all the depressing news each day, being a "professional optimist", I chose to focus on the upsides amongst all the adversity and challenges. For starters, I'm happy to report that all of our families, friends and production team members are safe and healthy! I was able to spend a week with my parents to celebrate the Lunar New Year and their combined 170th birthday! Secondly, our production teams are keeping up with the heavy workflow, despite the many transportation and logistical barriers. I'm deeply touched by their can-do spirit. It allows us to serve our clients here with full capacity. Technology has truly played a crucial role during this difficult time. Finally, I'm confident that the around-the-clock global efforts by many medical experts and healthcare scientists will win the battle against Coronavirus soon. Blessings to all of PRISM’s friends and clients for their health and well-being!
Hines is adding more luxury living in downtown Houston. Construction started in Q1 2019 on The Preston, the tallest multifamily tower downtown. Muñoz + Albin Architecture won the invite-only design competition for this coveted parcel, the site of the former Houston Chronicle parking garage. The new 46-story high rise will have 373 residences, including 10 penthouse units on levels 44 and 45. The sky deck on level 46 will provide unmatched panoramic views of the Houston skyline and include a private resident dining room and catering kitchen. Other amenities include a 24-hour concierge, valet parking, a gym with on-demand virtual fitness classes, co-working spaces, social lounges, pet spa, bike shop, and a resort-style pool on the 10th level surrounded by cabanas, daybeds, and a yoga lawn. There will be 6,800 s.f. of curated street-level retail and restaurants. Mayfield and Ragni designed the modern, edgy interiors. Muñoz + Albin hired PRISM for several exterior views of this exclusive property, to use in publicity and pre-leasing/marketing efforts. They sited the tower at a 45-degree angle to the surrounding streets, both showcasing the tower’s concave west façade and providing residents longer panoramic views between buildings. The interiors feature details designers included to pay homage to the site’s past, such as the embossed typography in the structural columns. Leasing will begin in the first quarter of 2022 and construction is scheduled for completion late in 2022.
PRISM worked with Allen Swift, AIA, at Heitkamp Swift Architects and interior designer Belinda Bennett, ASID, at Bennett Design Group to produce renderings for HCA Houston Healthcare West. The hospital used the renderings for internal promotion in order to secure funding for lobby and other interior improvements at their expanding campus on Richmond, just outside Beltway 8 on Houston’s west side. HCA Houston Healthcare is a leading provider of healthcare in the Houston area offering a range of programs that meets the needs of people of all ages with conditions ranging from acute to chronic illnesses as well as routine care. They are also nationally recognized for treatment in orthopedics, women's care, weight loss surgery, breast imaging and more, at facilities like The Woman’s Hospital of Texas, Texas Orthopedic Hospital and other Centers of Excellence.
What are investors, developers, architects, and contractors betting on for 2020? Here are views from varying perspectives – reporter Ralph Bivins, advisory firm Baker Tilly, Bisnow Houston, and commercial real estate firm Avison Young. Veteran Houston real estate writer Ralph Bivins shared his 2020 predictions in a recent newsletter. For commercial real estate, Mr. Bivins’ crystal ball sees: a slight slowdown in industrial construction starts though the sector will remain hot; more new amenity-rich Class AA office space despite the current 20% vacancy rates due to the “flight to quality”; and a denser Inner Loop leading to more multifamily, office, and retail space. HBJ asked experts from advisory firm Baker Tilly, and they see interest in Opportunity Zones remaining high, though they caution that the benefits of these developments vary greatly and should be considered on a deal-by-deal basis. They are optimistic about incentive deals in general, due to the broad discretion Texas cities have when putting together incentive packages targeted to specific industries. Bisnow Houston foresees the healthcare sector to be the city’s largest job creator in 2020. The evolution in healthcare delivery continues to impact providers’ real estate strategies; outpatient facilities are still popular due both to easy patient access relative to the Med Center, and higher revenues for hospitals. CRE company Avison Young laid out the ten general trends they see impacting investment and construction. Highlights include increased resilience in buildings of all types, more emphasis on placemaking in mixed-use developments, a rebirth of retail that incorporate digital and mobile technologies for experiential immersion, and a push for wellness in office spaces to aid HR departments in the war for talent.
ENR Texas & Louisiana magazine again invited Jing to be a judge in their Top Young Professionals program. This is the fifth time for Jing to provide her industry insights and expertise to the annual program, which honors 20 professionals under the age of 40 who have shown extraordinary leadership and service to the AEC industry during their career. Congratulations to all the winners: Abelardo Salinas, Project Manager/Chief Innovation Officer, LNV Inc. Andrea Gossard, Senior Advisor, Cooper Project Advisors Anthony Schoenecker, New Orleans Field Services Section Manager, Modjeski and Masters Brandon Klenzendorf, Senior Engineer, Geosyntec Consultants Inc. Eric Friedman, Senior Technical Consultant, Golder Associates Giovanni Zavala, Project Manager, Archer Western Construction LLC Hannah Sargent, Architect, Gensler Jennifer Snape, Managing Partner, Batture LLC Jong Kim, Technical Designer, Gensler Joseph D. Williams, Senior Superintendent, CORE Construction Services LLC Kate Howell, Senior Associate, Interior Designer, REES Megan L. Crutcher, Principal, Odyssey Engineering Group LLC Michael Rotolo, Chief Operating Officer, Rotolo Consultants Inc. Michael Suarez, Project Manager II, Archer Western Construction Nick Moldaner, Vice President, Palmisano Patrick Ray, Operations Manager, Brasfield & Gorrie Robert Poche, Division Vice President and Director Asset Management Group, Jacobs Ryan Carter, Senior Project Manager, Manhattan Construction Co. Steve Hirst, Transmission Department Manager, Burns & McDonnell Tim Pach, Project Manager, Stanley Consultants
Please help us welcome our newest team member! Lily Luo joins PRISM as a project manager, responsible for overseeing all aspects of project delivery. She’ll be working directly with clients to understand their requirements and direct the work of our Chinese production staff through project completion. As PRISM’s only trained landscape architect, Lily brings a unique perspective to our team. Read all about Lily's background here.
"I can only dream as far as I can see... And when I get there, I can always see farther." - Anonymous January 8th is a very special date for me. On that day 27 years ago, at the age of 27, I came to the United States from China to attend graduate school. That special day represented a new dream, a new journey, and a new life. Since then every January 8th, I reflect on my journey with a deep sense of contentment and gratefulness. I'm grateful to the people who helped me along the way, and I'm grateful for the opportunities that have allowed me to learn and grow each day. I'm grateful for the good fortune of becoming an entrepreneur to work with people I love and serve the clients I respect. I am still full of dreams, grateful to have gotten to where I am now and hopeful to see even farther.
Houston firm Merriman Holt Powell Architects is widely recognized for its deep portfolio of church projects. Yet the firm’s diverse body of work can also be seen across the region, ranging from the Houston Racquet Club to the ArtsNow headquarters and the Missouri Region/Fort Bend Branch Library. PRISM began working with Merriman Holt Powell in 2015 on the Crime Stoppers “Dave Ward” Headquarters building. Since then we’ve assisted the firm on many of their liturgical projects, and we always appreciate that they use their same thoughtful, cooperative design process with us as with their clients. We are so thankful to work with such a well-respected and talented firm.
First Presbyterian Church of Houston is said to have been the first Church established in Houston in 1839. In 1948, the congregation moved to their current campus, located in the heart of Houston’s Museum District. Since that time, the congregation has grown to over 3,000 members. The Church’s current, far-reaching capital campaign will fund several new spaces and improvements across the campus, expand evangelism efforts, add technology innovations, increase and rearrange surface parking, and invest in staff development. The project includes exterior connections to the Museum’s new Glassell School of Art and their new Nancy and Rich Kinder exhibition building, reconfiguration of parking lots and pedestrian walkways to optimize arrival experiences, a new fellowship space with an attached outdoor gathering area, and renovating various spaces for Children and Family Ministries. Gabriel Architects is leading the design, and commissioned PRISM to develop several renderings for the capital campaign. Scott Slaney of Terrain Studio is leading landscape design for the completely reimagined exterior environment. Construction is scheduled to commence in early 2020 to coincide with the completion of the Museum’s new Kinder exhibition building on the south edge of the Church. These improvements will position the Church for continued growth on their prestigious site.
The largest Episcopal church in the United States is right here in Houston. And it’s getting bigger. St. Martin’s Episcopal Church broke ground earlier this year on a $55 million expansion on its campus in the affluent Tanglewood area. Jackson and Ryan Architects designed the new buildings, which include a 900-seat Parish Life Center; it will host the church’s popular contemporary services and events like concerts and speakers. Other new buildings include Children’s Ministry, Music, and a Pastoral Care Center. The existing 1959 church building is being renovated into Christ Chapel, a smaller 250-seat sanctuary for baptisms, funerals, weddings, and other services. Construction started earlier in 2019 and is expected to be completed in the Fall of 2020. Tellepsen Builders is the general contractor, and also built the majority of buildings on the campus, including the original sanctuary.
