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http://en.wikipedia.org/upload/0/04/Reliant_Park.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/upload/d/df/PictureofReliantStadium.JPG Above & Beyond Roof covers new ground by bringing unique elements into play By DAVID BARRON Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle As you drive at night along the South Loop and gaze at newly built Reliant Stadium, you may think that you see one building that, in the words of its designer, twinkles like a giant jewel box amid Houston's skyline. What you really see, in the orderly, mathematical world of David Manica and his colleagues at HOK Sports, is two projects -- the stadium, which is impressive in its own right, and the roof, which is unlike anything in the history of American sporting palaces. Roofed stadiums are, of course, almost old hat in Houston. Reliant Stadium, after all, towers over the building that broke -- and redefined -- the mold, the Reliant Astrodome. From the upper regions of Reliant Stadium's north side, it is possible to see downtown Houston and the baseball complex now known as Minute Maid Park. Reliant's roof, however, is unique in the small circle of retractable-roof stadiums. It has two retractable panels, as opposed to three at SkyDome in Toronto and six at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix. The panels retract in opposite directions, similar to the BOB's roof but unlike the two moving panels at Minute Maid and Safeco Field in Seattle, which travel in the same direction. Miller Park in Milwaukee also has two moving panels, but they retract in a fan-shaped pattern. Manica's first challenge in designing what would become Reliant Stadium actually came back in the days when the NFL's return to Houston was little more than a pipe dream. In 1997, the stadium-to-be was a decidedly different project. For one thing, the roof was fixed, not retractable. "That was the initial design," he said. "But the tenant requirements between the football team and the rodeo were such that the rodeo would require the roof to be closed. They were not interested in being a part of an open-air facility. INS & "Houston was competing with Los Angeles at the time to get the team, and there is no doubt that the NFL prefers an open-air stadium with natural grass. So the best way to solve that problem was to design the new building here with an operable roof." Manica's first drawings of a roof that would open and close began in the summer in 1997 and proceeded in fits and starts for the next two years as Texans owner-to-be Bob McNair wooed and eventually won the rights to the NFL's 32nd franchise. HOK's original plan for the roof called for an "accordion-style" roof -- one that, in visual terms, would simply "fold up and go away" when opened. That plan, Manica explained, would prevent the roof from "overpowering" the stadium by setting too heavily, in a design sense, over the rest of the building. "But that started to present some interesting engineering complications and cost and maintenance worries," he said. "And so we moved away from the accordion to the simple roof panel." To be exact, two roof panels -- each 240 feet long and 385 feet wide. From midfield, one panel slides to the north and one to the south along a set of tracks placed along the 967-foot long "super trusses" that frame the roof structure. When the roof is fully retracted, the open space above the playing field is 350 feet wide by 500 feet long -- 175,000 square feet. Unlike Texas Stadium, which has trusses that span the open portion of its roof, the Reliant Stadium roof is completely open to the elements when the two panels are retracted. And, unlike the roof at Minute Maid Park, which whether open or closed is easily the defining element of that stadium, the Reliant roof is just that -- a top that doesn't overwhelm everything beneath. Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle Reliant Stadium is completely open when two of the roof panels are retracted, a process that takes only seven minutes. "We keep the visual weight of the roof down by not stacking panels, like they do with the roof at Minute Maid Park," Manica said. The second unique element -- at least as it applies to retractable-roof stadiums in the United States -- is that the roof material is made of fabric. Specifically, a Teflon-coated, fiberglass fabric manufactured by Birdair Inc. of Amherst, N.Y. "We wanted to have the feel of an open-air stadium, even with the roof closed," Manica said. "When you walk around the Astrodome, you walk through circular, dark concourses. We wanted to have more light with the comforts of climate control, and the fabric was an important part of that design." Birdair fabrics were used in the United States for the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, the Metrodome in Minneapolis, the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis and Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. Elsewhere, the company installed fabric roofs on the Millennium Dome in London, Olympic Stadium in Rome, Hiroshima Stadium in Japan and Shanghai Stadium in China. "We used a high-translucency version of the fabric, which requires a lot of special care to install as opposed to the standard fabric," said Clark Martens, project manager for Birdair. "It allows 24 percent to 25 percent of the outside light to get through. The Georgia Dome roof, by comparison, allows maybe 10 percent." As with all projects, there are tradeoffs in using fabric, Manica said. "Fabric is more expensive than using a hard roof surface of decking and membrane," he said. "However, we found that not needing the additional amount of structural steel to hold up the weight of the roof would offset the cost of the fabric. So we came up with the most cost-effective roof that could be designed for this building." This particular element of architectural haute couture cost about $10 million. However, Martens said, it is engineered to carry full hurricane loads, including winds of more than 100 mph. Try that with your garden-variety Armani frock. The fabric also creates a vaulted frame over the roof frame to help shed water and to "give a sense of space for those inside inside the seating bowl," Manica said. A series of 10 steel cables, each two inches in diameter and capable of exerting 200,000 pounds of pressure, secure the fabric to the roof structure and create the series of peaks and valleys. "This is relatively new for the United States, but if you go to Europe, fabric roofs are much more of the norm," Martens said. "The next domed stadium that will be built in this country will be the football stadium in Phoenix, and that also will be fabric. We think it is a cost-competitive system, and it gives you a lot of nice attributes, such as that feel of natural daylight." The job of making the roof panels and their giant fabric swatches move to and fro fell to Cyril Silberman, president of Uni-Systems Inc. of Minneapolis, who also designed the transport system at Minute Maid Park. This system, however, is as different from Minute Maid's as football differs from baseball, Silberman said. For one thing, the Reliant Stadium roof is lighter -- 3,000 tons, as opposed to 9,000 tons at Minute Maid, including the sliding glass wall that runs along Crawford Street. That difference made for some, as Silberman gingerly described it, challenging design problems. "The Reliant roof could depart the stadium under a number of different circumstances if we didn't do something special with it," he said. "In winds of 50 mph from the right direction, in theory it could sail away if you didn't have a retention system. And you have 50 mph winds at least 10 times a year during thunderstorms. "Consequently, this roof has a very complex electrical and mechanical system that measures the wind and keeps the roof gripped firmly on its rails and moves it with timers and sensors that make it absolutely impossible for the roof ever to get away." Another challenge in designing the transport system, Silberman said, is that buildings are subject to lateral defractions. In other words, they wiggle. "To build the trusses strong enough so that they wouldn't have had any movement would have required 400 to 600 extra tons of steel and concrete," Silberman said. "But, by allowing this to be a semi-flexible structure, they saved a lot of money and complexities and erecting hazards." The roof is designed to allow 21 inches of lateral wiggle room as the building expands and contracts. To cope with those changes, Uni-Systems installed what it calls a four-bar linkage system on the north roof panel that keeps the roof on track as the building breathes. The south edge of the roof is on a rigid series of transports engaged to a rail that does not allow movement. "We only needed (the release mechanism) on one side," Silberman said. "The other side has to be rigid. Otherwise, the building could fall over sideways." The roof track also has a series of what Silberman describes as hurricane hold-down clamps that are not present on any other transportable roof in the United States. "It's like a series of giant scissors with teeth under the railroad track (on which the roof moves)," Silberman said. "There's enough clearance for the roof to move, but not enough for it to leave the track. When the roof comes to a stop, they clamp on tightly." If you're concerned about leaks, don't be. When the roof panels come together, it activates a system of inflatable seals, powered by a system of six to eight 15-horsepower air blowers, to keep fans protected from the elements. Silberman's transport system can close the roof in seven minutes, as opposed to 12 minutes for the one-way system at Minute Maid Park. He estimates the total cost of the roof, including the transport system, the fabric and the structural steel, at about $48 million. http://images.chron.com/content/chronicle/special/02/reliant/img/opensky.jpg Reliant Stadium is completely open when two of the roof panels are retracted, a process that takes only seven minutes. http://images.chron.com/content/chronicle/special/02/reliant/img/rooftop.jpg Even at night, it's clear that the Reliant's fiberglass roof shaped up to look very different from the fixed-glass one that covers the Reliant Astrodome. http://images.chron.com/content/chronicle/special/02/reliant/img/roofrail.jpg The retractable roof rides this rail when it is set in motion.

I noticed a few public notice signs at the apartments at Washington and Waugh announcing an application to redevelop. Anyone have any idea what's up with that?

European style midrise condo building proposed at 4802 Caroline St by Urban Flats Builders. This will be next to Park on Caroline and Oaks on Caroline http://www.chron.com/news/article/Urban-Flats-Builder-sets-focus-on-mid-rise-market-6609073.php https://www.facebook.com/Ridge-on-Caroline-839683789420103/info/?tab=overview

All/Mod, Finger Furniture At 4001 Gulf Fwy. Perhaps I have missed the thread else ware and the search let me down but what is the buzz on the Fingers Furniture location across the Freeway from UofH? This is a large tract of land just south of downtown next to our largest University so what will it become, any insight? Apologies if this is being discussed else ware, Scharpe St Guy

This is the shopping center with the Randall’s at Bellaire & Bissonnet. https://s25.q4cdn.com/658894972/files/doc_presentations/2020/11/3Q20-Roadshow-(Nareit).pdf A planned multi-story mixed-use redevelopment is in the works. Wonder if they’re signaling that the Randall’s will be closing, making the shopping center obsolete.

There is a sign up near the Bass Pro shops construction at the Spectrum exit off 288 showing the "Waterlight District" with a water taxi in the picture. Anyone know about this Woodlandsesque development?

March 23, 2005, 11:14PM At Memorial City, a lifestyle in development Project will surround mall with residences, offices By DAVID KAPLAN and NANCY SARNOFF ------------------- This message has been edited to remove copyrighted material. Please do not post copyrighted photos or articles from newspapers or magazines. We have already received a warning from the Houston Chronicle, and the legal departments of other publications have visited the site. If you would like to discuss a published article, please summarize the article and provide a link to the original source. -------------------

Anybody know anything about this

The Vision Integrating the man-made with the natural. It’s a challenge to link the two in a way this is not disruptive to existing space and allows for growth and development. The goal should always be to design a natural extension of the environment, developing in a natural way that truly fits with the city and its surroundings. The plan was prepared for Hines Development to provide a vision for a 14-acre site in West Houston. The site has a natural beauty, being part of the edge of Houston’s signature open space, Memorial Park. Developing links with the park is a centerpiece of the design concept, which encompasses approximately 1.8 million square feet of mixed-use development. The Vision includes extending the natural setting of Memorial Park into the site. An organic and natural setting on the edge of the park gradually transitions into more formal settings to integrate the scheme with its various surroundings in the neighborhood context. A curving boulevard and a lineal park are part of the framework around the multiple addresses on which the building program will be sited. The vision includes using the park and the topographical changes of the Buffalo Bayou tributary to make a unique environment for the hotel conference center, a key element of the program. http://i.imgur.com/hiF9Cr3.jpg http://i.imgur.com/ccn6bpu.jpg http://i.imgur.com/t0DoYIJ.jpg http://i.imgur.com/EqLCQOp.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Jju2Ubd.jpg http://i.imgur.com/k1wBzRV.jpg http://i.imgur.com/srMlQpp.jpg http://i.imgur.com/qRG9cmV.jpg

New sign for a mixed-use development called "Medical Village" There are contact numbers for leasing with office, residential, retail opportunities. There is also a rendering of the project which appears to have several mid-rise buildings. I just noticed this last weekend and did not see this project on HAIF yet. Sorry for the bad picture, as all I had is the iPhone.

A Hard Rock Hotel & Residences is proposed for the southern end of Uptown, Sage Road & South Rice Avenue (3500 Sage Rd.) SubdivisionPlatPDF_Hard Rock Hotels And Condominiums-Sheet 1 - PP.pdf

http://newyorkrealestate.citybizlist.com/yourcitybiznews/detail.aspx?id=95828 guessing something near the proposed intermodal transist station (or whatever its called).

Maybe I'm being a bit naive and believing the hype, but Colliers International is putting this site up for sale and pumping it up (as they all do, no?). Maybe it's not as great as they say since they reveal that the property is only 45% leased as of now. Still, it does seem like a pretty good location. It reminds me of nw corner Weslayan & 59 b/c of the gas station on the corner. Are apartments the destiny of this location as well? Is this location really as unique as they claim it will be and truly the last site of it's kind to become available for years to come? I doubt I guess, but it's a place for us to keep an eye on. Property addresses: 2600 Southwest Plaza 3930 Kirby Drive 3910 Kirby Drive http://colliersintlhou.visibli.com/share/4SPSFe

Does anyone know the current status of the Halliburton property on the west Sam Houston at Bellaire? I read it was going to auction at the end of April, but nothing since?

Architect - https://www.pagethink.com https://sixthandblanco.com

This development is pretty exciting for a town like Dickinson. It has the chance to be a really great spot despite its small size and it is truly mixed-use (rather than just a couple uses next to one another- looking at Flyway in Webster). Notably, the original plan for this property was a typical suburban shopping center but the city asked the developers to dream a bit bigger and they came up with this. https://www.remecompanies.com/_files/ugd/4f928b_40178470a45145ee8838eaea3d26f86d.pdf

Looks like the Admiral Linen facility (on 1.5+ blocks at Harvard/Center) is closing in January...just one block north of the new mixed use/H-E-B building at Buffalo Heights: https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2018/11/02/linen-and-uniform-rental-co-to-close-houston.html

This is a $1.5B 2,000 acre mixed use development at the intersection of GP & FM 1464: http://www.globest.com/news/908_908/houston/160716-1.html

EXCLUSIVE REPORTS From the August 12, 2005 print edition Car dealership gives way to urban infill Jennifer Dawson Houston Business Journal A high-end development mixing retail, residential and possibly office space will soon be parked on an inner-city tract that has been occupied by auto dealerships for the past three decades. Trademark Property Co. is negotiating a long-term ground lease on six acres on Westheimer just west of Mid Lane, which is currently home to a Central Ford dealership. Trademark is the Fort Worth-based developer behind the $100 million Market Street project in The Woodlands. That successful 34-acre development includes 400,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space and 100,000 square feet of office space. Read More...

I have seen a lot of activity at the warehouse on the north side of the Dowling-Polk intersection. They have replaced all of the windows and the upper level has been given a new stucco exterior finish with green-toned paint. Looks like it could be highrise lofts or something like that. Anyone know for sure?

Always used to see this Loopnet listing. Looks like the listing has been removed. Did somebody buy it? https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/0-WOODWAY-Houston-TX/11384575/ +/-1.0409 acres fronting the south side of Woodway Drive in the Riverway Reserve development on the banks of Buffalo Bayou. High profile unique development opportunity with engineering challenges due to floodway, but price is discounted accordingly. Highest and best use calls for mid-to-high-rise vertical development.

OkieEric has come across a mixed-use development proposed near the Menninger Clinic at 12301 South Main: https://www.facebook.com/saintnicholasschools

Rumor on the street is that Cameron acquired 25 acres from Apache. I believe this location is the former Dow Chemical HQ at 400 West Sam Houston Parkway. They have real estate all over the city, particularly in Westway Park. This must be a large consolidation for them. Apparently going to include over 1 million square feet of office. Patrinely will develop it for Cameron...you have to believe the architect will be Gensler. Same team currently developing Southwestern Energy's new HQ in Springwoods Village. How many energy companies are left to build new campuses for?

Earlier this year, there was a news item that Occidental (Oxy) was in talks to buy Conoco's (now ConocoPhillips) old headquarters on Katy Freeway. More recently the business media has reported that Oxy has put all of their Greenway Plaza space up for sublease and that the space will be available when Oxy moves to a "a newly constructed, owned property to the west.” Of course, not a single business reporter in this town has managed to discover or, so as we know, even inquire about, WHERE Oxy is building their new headquarters, how big it might be, who is the architect, etc etc. Has anyone heard anything?

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/business/3047139 Feb. 19, 2005, 12:40AM Developers have ideas for Imperial land By NANCY SARNOFF and ERIC HANSON Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle The sprawling Imperial Sugar refinery, once the center of Sugar Land's economic and social life, is being sold to developers who hope to return it to that status with a project mixing condominiums, single-family homes and retail space. On Friday, Imperial Sugar announced that it reached a preliminary agreement with a partnership of Cherokee Investment Partners and W.C. Perry Land Development to buy the 160-acre Fort Bend County property. "We'll be turning a blight on the community into something more viable and preserving the historic nature of the sight," said W.C. Perry's Will Perry, the son of well-known residential developer Bob Perry of Perry Homes. The elder Perry is not involved. Ultimately, this proposed development could include much more than the old sugar refinery. Perry said the groups will try to acquire a 550-acre tract of state-owned land northwest of the property and redevelop the entire parcel. The prospect of redevelopment is a relief to area residents who have been concerned about living next door to an empty and decaying industrial complex. "I think, for the most part, most people are very excited to know there will be something there instead of a vacant factory with a lot of buildings that need to be demolished. It's looking pretty tacky right now," said Kristin Lytle, who founded the Friends of Old Sugar Land. Perry sees the central feature in the proposed development as something similar to San Antonio's River Walk or The Woodlands Waterway. Oyster Creek runs through the property. Plans are still very preliminary, however, as the group hasn't yet struck a deal with the state on the additional acreage or closed on the Imperial Sugar property. The developers won't discuss the terms or additional details about the proposed project until it is further along. Their deal to buy the Imperial Sugar property could close by year-end, but they must complete a detailed review. Other groups have looked at the sugar refinery site, but it goes back to the early 1900s, and Cherokee's experience in redeveloping old industrial plants helped get the attention of Imperial Sugar executives. The Raleigh, N.C.-based real estate firm buys contaminated properties like old manufacturing and refining sites, cleans up any environmental damage and sells or develops them in partnerships. In 2003, Cherokee closed a $620 million fund