Aga Khan Foundation: Islamic Community Center

[Naviguessor]

Obviously, they can’t share the concept until they’ve chosen the perfect backsplash. 

[hindesky]

Right after I took this pic of what I guess might be some big wigs, a chauffeured Mercedes shows up to drop off another big cheese. I think this may crank up soon.

[tangledwoods]

They now have a drilling rig onsite, I think they might be moving beyond mockups!!

[j_cuevas713]

2 hours ago, tangledwoods said:

They now have a drilling rig onsite, I think they might be moving beyond mockups!!

This site is in desperate need of this development. 

[hindesky]

Small drilling rig has done several holes on the western side along Montrose Blvd. 

 

[shasta]

This might be the most confusing project ever.

 

Announce that this will be the first of its kind in the United States of America. Hire a rising international architect to work on the project and have our Mayor proudly boast that this will be very HIGH profile project and a new symbol of Houston's diversity...and then...

 

NOTHING!

 

No updates, no teasers, no presentations, no news, no renderings, nothing...

Edited August 9, 2021 by shasta

[hindesky]

1 hour ago, shasta said:

This might be the most confusing project ever.

 

Announce that this will be the first of its kind in the United States of America. Hire a rising international architect to work on the project and have our Mayor proudly boast that this will be very HIGH profile project and a new symbol of Houston's diversity...and then...

 

NOTHING!

 

No updates, no teasers, no presentations, no news, no renderings, nothing...

Both @Urbannizer and @MidCenturyMoldy posted possible renderings but they were asked to take them down.

[arche_757]

Does anyone know how the other Aga Khan projects have proceeded around the globe, since this method could be the way they have always operated?  Secretive for little reason other than their founder wants it this way.

Edited August 9, 2021 by arche_757

[hindesky]

Nelson Byrd Woltz / Landscape Architects have it on their web site under -Project List - Cultural Institutions, but the link can't be clicked on.

 

[tangledwoods]

This place gives me all kinds of Palace of the Golden Orbs vibe:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/palace-of-the-golden-orbs

Although Aga Khan appears to be a much more real organization with much better funding, I cant quite shake off my doubts related to their past tax issues with the site, and their non-existent time frame for actually bringing the project forward.

The project has been in planning for 15+ years and they have chosen now to break ground, which blows me away.  There has never been a more expensive time to break ground on a new construction project in Houston, TX.... We are facing across the board price increases and delays for common building products.

If you would like to read some industry gossip, here is the latest inflation report from the AGC:

https://www.agc.org/learn/construction-data/agc-construction-inflation-alert

 

I'll retreat to my safe place and continue to pray to the optimism / positivity gods.

[Twinsanity02]

What happened to Farshid Moussavi? I thought she was designing it.

[hindesky]

3 minutes ago, Twinsanity02 said:

What happened to Farshid Moussavi? I thought she was designing it.

They still have it as one of their future projects on their web site.

https://www.farshidmoussavi.com/node/452#ismaili_center_houston_452_2

[MidCenturyMoldy]

19 hours ago, arche_757 said:

Does anyone know how the other Aga Khan projects have proceeded around the globe, since this method could be the way they have always operated?  Secretive for little reason other than their founder wants it this way.

"Leader," you mean. Their founder lived 13 centuries ago.

[MidCenturyMoldy]

19 hours ago, hindesky said:

Both @Urbannizer and @MidCenturyMoldy posted possible renderings but they were asked to take them down.

The fact that I was asked to take down the post because its publication violated a non-disclosure agreement  signed by the landscape architect leads me to believe the renderings were possibly the real deal.

[MidCenturyMoldy]

20 hours ago, arche_757 said:

Does anyone know how the other Aga Khan projects have proceeded around the globe, since this method could be the way they have always operated?  Secretive for little reason other than their founder wants it this way.

Apparently it took 12 years from purchasing the land to opening the building in Toronto. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ismaili_Centre,_Toronto

Edited August 10, 2021 by MidCenturyMoldy

[Montrose1100]

38 minutes ago, MidCenturyMoldy said:

Apparently it took 12 years from purchasing the land to opening the building in Toronto. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ismaili_Centre,_Toronto

We're on year 15 so what's the rush.

[MidCenturyMoldy]

16 minutes ago, Montrose1100 said:

We're on year 15 so what's the rush.

Extra time makes it extra special!

[Luminare]

19 hours ago, Twinsanity02 said:

What happened to Farshid Moussavi? I thought she was designing it.

I believe Farshid Moussavi is still the Design/Lead Architect. They will more than likely recruit a local firm to be the Architect of Record. Nelson Byrd Woltz from what @hindesky posted will likely be the Landscape Architect.

[hindesky]

26 minutes ago, Luminare said:

I believe Farshid Moussavi is still the Design/Lead Architect. They will more than likely recruit a local firm to be the Architect of Record. Nelson Byrd Woltz from what @hindesky posted will likely be the Landscape Architect.

DLR group is the architect of record.

[hindesky]

There are about 8-10 of these along the fence line, seems like they are pumping water into them. I wonder if they are doing remediation work to the soil? I know there was a warehouse here for a long time, I wonder if the previous owner polluted the ground? Anyone know what kind of work was done at the old warehouse?

[mkultra25]

1 hour ago, hindesky said:

There are about 8-10 of these along the fence line, seems like they are pumping water into them. I wonder if they are doing remediation work to the soil? I know there was a warehouse here for a long time, I wonder if the previous owner polluted the ground? Anyone know what kind of work was done at the old warehouse?

It was Robinson Public Warehouse, basically a public storage facility. It was originally the first Sears store in Houston before the 1935 flood ultimately resulted in a move to the store on S. Main that is now the Ion. 

Some background from http://www.offthekuff.com/wp/?p=13755: 

Quote

The building at 2323 Allen Parkway opened in 1929 as Houston’s first Sears store.

The architect, Nimmons, Carr & Wright, also designed the Sears store on South Main at Wheeler, which replaced the Allen Parkway store.

In 1935, floodwaters from Buffalo Bayou swamped the first floor of the store, resulting in a huge flood sale, according to the Greater Houston Preservation Society. The store moved to South Main a few years later.

In the 1940s, the building was the temporary home of Baylor College of Medicine until its Texas Medical Center building was completed.

Arthur Robinson purchased the building in the 1950s for a storage business, the first of its kind in the Houston area and a prelude to today’s mini storage facilities, said real estate broker Stan Creech, who sold the property to Ameriton in 2005.

I'd be surprised if there was any activity going on there during the years it was Robinson Public Warehouse that requires remediation now. My mother worked there for a couple of years in the late 1960s, and I don't recall her ever mentioning anything taking place there that would be outside the normal scope of what you'd expect at a storage facility. 

[tangledwoods]

Quote

There are about 8-10 of these along the fence line, seems like they are pumping water into them. I wonder if they are doing remediation work to the soil? I know there was a warehouse here for a long time, I wonder if the previous owner polluted the ground? Anyone know what kind of work was done at the old warehouse?

I am about 75% positive that these are part of either a permanent or temporary dewatering system.

Here is a company that specializes in that kind of work here in Houston:

Griffin Dewatering

 

 

[kbates2]

18 minutes ago, tangledwoods said:

I am about 75% positive that these are part of either a permanent or temporary dewatering system.

Here is a company that specializes in that kind of work here in Houston:

Griffin Dewatering

 

 

The sled in the background of Hindesky's photo does appear to be a dewatering pump sled assembly.

[hindesky]

I had the opportunity to talk with one of the McCarty workers, he confirmed that they are pumping out the water below the project. He said they drilled down 100', they have about 10 wells on both the west side and east side. Asked him when they will actually start building and he said next year.😳

[Fortune]

Why do they need to pump out ground water?

 

[hindesky]

48 minutes ago, Fortune said:

Why do they need to pump out ground water?

 

To keep it from sinking when they add the weight of the project and to prevent the ground from shifting and damaging the foundation. Those are my uneducated guesses from someone who doesn't know anything about civil work. The guys said there was a lot of water they needed to remove. I worked for a company that built huge above ground oil and chemical storage tanks and we had to have civil companies build huge foundations to support the weight of the oil/chemicals and the weight of the tank itself.  I only dealt with the steel portion of the tanks and not the civil. Any experts care to weigh in?

[Skyboxdweller]

I watched them do this when they started work on the foundation of the Aspire residential tower.  They "dewatered" the perimeter of the building site and drove metal pilings to create a relatively dry bathtub-like space two stories below the surface before laying down a massive amount steel and concrete.  

[Luminare]

On 8/28/2021 at 8:24 PM, hindesky said:

To keep it from sinking when they add the weight of the project and to prevent the ground from shifting and damaging the foundation. Those are my uneducated guesses from someone who doesn't know anything about civil work. The guys said there was a lot of water they needed to remove. I worked for a company that built huge above ground oil and chemical storage tanks and we had to have civil companies build huge foundations to support the weight of the oil/chemicals and the weight of the tank itself.  I only dealt with the steel portion of the tanks and not the civil. Any experts care to weigh in?

Hmmm interesting. Not a civil guy either, but it makes me wonder if this happens on more projects in Houston with deep foundations. I think in general people understand that the geological make up of the earth under Houston isn't exactly great, but most have no idea just how picky, sludgy, plastic-like, and expansive the clay soils are. Or how high the water table can be in most areas.

I wonder if this is a way to do a foundation in lieu of pilings or bell piers, or maybe they have to do both in certain situations. Curious myself.

[tangledwoods]

I have only ever done dewatering systems when doing permanent below grade structures.  In houston we have a number of foundation options that allow for installing foundations in VERY wet soils without the need for dewatering.  The fact that they have a system installed makes me think they are either going to have a basement / underground parking / or other below grade support structures for the fountains and site stuff.

 

[kbates2]

This happens on a ton of projects in Houston. I did some consulting work for this type of company one time and would compare their list to HAIF. They were not the only company in town and their list usually covered like 1/4 of the Going Up section.

[hindesky]

Dewatering Techniques and Solutions for Construction Projects

 

Dewatering and construction dewatering are terms used to describe the action of removing groundwater or surface water from a construction site. Normally the dewatering process is done by pumping or evaporation. It is usually done before excavation for footings and will help to lower the water table that might cause problems during excavations.

 

Dewatering can also refer to the process of removing water from the soil by wet classification. Wet classification is a construction process that looks at the size of particles that make up the underlying soil in a project site and the flow of fluids through those particles.

 

The right dewatering plan can be used to be in compliance with some of the Best Management Practices related to the SWPP plan.

 

Why Dewatering? 

Construction dewatering is used on most construction sites due to accumulated water in trenches and excavations or in places with an inadequate slope or high water table. In construction projects, this water should be removed to keep working as scheduled or to provide a safe workplace.

 

Normally, builders tend to use water pumps to dewater these areas, but if they are not paying attention to the place where water is discharged, erosion and other problems may occur. It is important to follow best management practices when water is being pumped to lakes, wetlands, or directly to storm sewer inlets.

 

Dewatering Precautions 

Dewatering activities must be done properly to avoid eroding the soil on the construction site. It is also important to choose the best location for discharge, even when you might be far away from water bodies or catch basins. There are multiple dewatering products that can be used to remove sediment from the pumped water, such as dewatering bags. When choosing discharge areas from a dewatering process remember:

 

 

 

• Water should not be pumped directly into slopes.
• Dewatering activities should be directed to a wooded buffer, if available.
• It is important to pay special attention and discontinue dewatering if the area shows signs of instability or erosion.
• Channels used for dewatering must be stable and better if they have been protected with grass or vegetation.
• You should avoid dewatering under heavy rains because the infiltration rate is at a minimum and water will move slower or just the dewatering process will not function.
• Never discharge water that has been contaminated with oil, grease, or chemical products directly. In such instances, an oil/water separator may be necessary.
• Additional permits and requirements might be needed from the state, local, or federal agencies.
• It is important to understand the water table conditions in the area, perhaps the underground water is always near the surface, so your plan might not work.
• Sump pumps are the most common dewatering technique but can handle only a small volume of water.

 

How to Use Dewatering Bags 

Dewatering bags are made of durable geotextile fabric used to filter water by removing sediments. They are used for dredging operations, construction sites, or places with a high water table near the shoreline. These bags should be sized accordingly based on the pump flow rate and type of sediment. When using dewatering bags, avoid multiple pipe discharges as it may cause the filter bag to fail. Remember to manage water runoff properly by guiding it to the nearest storm inlet.

 

Dewatering Methods 

Construction dewatering from open excavation or trenches can be done by several methods. However, the most simple of all is the gravity drain using drainage channels carrying away water from the area to be worked to the discharge point.

 

Other feasible ways for dewatering are water pumping, siphoning, or using large construction machinery buckets to scoop and dump water from the selected area. Earth channels used for dewatering could also be protected with ditch linings, and additional protection should be placed to reduce water velocities and minimize erosion. It is recommended to build riprap revetment protection with geotextile to prevent additional erosion at the discharge point.

 

Preventing Water from Affecting Your Site 

When it is known that a low permeability soil can be found, a possible solution to reduce the dewatering process is isolating the permeable strata from other sources of water. Sometimes, sheet piles, slurry walls, and grout curtains can be used as a method of preventing water from entering your trench or foundation.

 

Although this solution will not get rid of the problem, it is a very good plan to use when the water table is high, as you will still need to pump or remove water from the foundation or trench due to rainfall and water trapped in the area. Depending on the system use, a complete engineering analysis will be required to analyze how this process affects other areas.

 

https://www.thebalancesmb.com/what-is-dewatering-844520

[hindesky]

First time seeing this TECQ permit here, it's even dated to start 10/1/21. They also have brought some more heavy equipment on site. Tearing up the concrete driveway.

 

[hindesky]

The storage trailers have been moved away from the fence.

[Kokatat]

Variance request for the fence. Maybe they will show a rendering at the planning commission?

Edited October 3, 2021 by Kokatat

[hindesky]

I'm on the "City Cast Houston" email list and they had a topic about it today. 

THE AGA KHAN'S GIANT BATHROOM TILES

“It appears that the property purchased by the Aga Khan many years ago is under development,” writes City Cast subscriber Mickey Altman. “What is going on there?”

He’s talking about the enormous lot at 2323 Allen Parkway – right across from Buffalo Bayou Park’s alphabet-dude Tolerance sculptures, and with a looong edge facing Montrose. For 14 years, as midrise apartment empires rose all around, those 11 high-profile acres have languished, tantalizingly empty.

Their vacancy especially grated on Montrose denizens and architecture fans because they’d once slavered over the site’s possibilities. After the Aga Khan Foundation bought the place in 2006, it razed the crumbling brick warehouse that occupied the land and announced plans to build a big-deal Ismaili Centre like the ones in London, Vancouver and Lisbon.

The Aga Khan, a direct descendant of the prophet Muhammad, is the spiritual leader of the Ismaili sect of Shia Muslims. He's also a world-class architecture fan, and Ismaili Centres in other cities present themselves as brick-and-mortar proof of Ismailis’ friendly, do-gooder worldliness. Houston’s Ismaili Centre was to be part park, part prayer hall, part conference center – and open to the Montrose public.

Then…nothing.

In 2010, Swamplot blog readers spotted construction trailers. False alarm! Those were for a bridge across the street.

“Hark, a fence!” snarked Swamplot in 2012, when new chainlink appeared. But construction failed to follow.

In 2013, earth-moving equipment rumbled across the field, and a contractor told a reporter that he was preparing a cricket field. Instead: Crickets.

At last, in February 2019, the Ismailis announced something. Passing over a passel of starchitect finalists – David Chipperfield, Jeanne Gang and Rem Koolhaas – they'd picked up-and-coming Farshid Moussavi, a Harvard professor. And to design the enormous grounds, they chose Thomas Woltz, known to Houstonians for revamping Memorial Park and the landscaping around Rothko Chapel.

And now, three years later? To answer Mickey Altman’s question, I emailed Farshid Moussavi’s office in London. “We anticipate that there will be a press release regarding the project sometime next month,” responded her studio manager, Ishwariya Rajamohan. But alas: No pretty drawings, and no real timetable.

But something is happening. Yesterday, from the southern edge, I saw earth-moving equipment, Port-a-Cans, and best of all, what looked like giant bathroom tile samples – presumably the architectural equivalent of fabric swatches, to show what how various exteriors might look on the site itself.

And so, yet again, we wait.

 

https://mailchi.mp/citycast/the-aga-khans-big-vacant-lot-in-montrose?e=24451266ef

[hindesky]

They are building a construction trailer.

Moving dirt.

 Building a new entrance.

[toxtethogrady]

What's going up next door?

[hindesky]

16 minutes ago, toxtethogrady said:

What's going up next door?

That is the NRP project that replaces the burnt down apartments on W. Dallas.

 

[toxtethogrady]

Hope it's not a stickbuilt. Or else better fire suppression...

[hindesky]

2 hours ago, toxtethogrady said:

Hope it's not a stickbuilt. Or else better fire suppression...

Its work force priced apartments so yes its stick built.

Edited October 11, 2021 by hindesky

[shasta]

On 10/7/2021 at 5:50 PM, hindesky said:

The Aga Khan, a direct descendant of the prophet Muhammad, is the spiritual leader of the Ismaili sect of Shia Muslims.

Maybe Aga Khan is waiting for Arc Angel Gabriel to also visit him  with a message to BREAK GROUND!

[Luminare]

1 hour ago, shasta said:

Maybe Aga Khan is waiting for Arc Angel Gabriel to also visit him  with a message to BREAK GROUND!

I mean this is a flood prone city, so maybe its Johnna and the Whale? Oh maybe this will be an arc.....

On the serious side. I think people underestimate just how long it takes for a project to break ground, how expensive it is, and also how proud a buildings owner is of what they built or want to build.

Lets think about this for a moment, if this is going to be the only Aga Khan Islamic Community Center in the United States, I'm willing to bet that nothing big or small is being left to chance. Every single detail is being looked over with a fine tooth comb. Every part of the budget is being examined to be sure each dollar is worth it. Every single material is being examined to make sure it matches the quality the Aga Khan wants this to be. Yeah this is going to take a long time.

Edited October 11, 2021 by Luminare

[tangledwoods]

Drove by this morning, the project is now going full speed ahead.  They have started site clearing and there are lots of workers on site.

[hindesky]

[hindesky]

They aren't doing busy work, this is under construction now. Dozer moving lots of top soil, lots of workers vehicles, creating a rip rap hard bottom area for heavy equipment and continuing with the construction trailers.

[j_cuevas713]

This is going to be incredible. I think it's safe to say we've turned the corner in terms of development and quality of life. We're becoming much more sustainable as a city by making massive strides in technology with the Innovation District, TMC3, and the spaceport. We've become way more walkable as a whole and more bikeable. This is just all really exciting to witness. 

Edited October 22, 2021 by j_cuevas713

[MidCenturyMoldy]

Just found this. It was posted October 16,2021.

 

“[W]e are planning to hold a design sharing event in Houston in mid-November to share preliminary images of the Center and discuss how it will be used to serve the Jamat and the broader community in the Houston area and beyond. We will share these preview images in the near future.”

 

https://the.ismaili/usa/ismaili-center-houston-project-update-the-jamati-institutions

Edited October 22, 2021 by MidCenturyMoldy

[MidCenturyMoldy]

She just can't wait!

 

 

 

Edited October 22, 2021 by MidCenturyMoldy

[Nate99]

Jobsite safety coordinator is going to be all over her for not wearing proper PPE.

[phillip_white]

1 hour ago, Nate99 said:

Jobsite safety coordinator is going to be all over her for not wearing proper PPE.

They couldn't kill red bag girl if they wanted to.