RENDERING CREATED FOR OVERLAND PARTNERS ARCHITECTURE & URBAN DESIGN, WHO SERVED AS A CASE STUDY FOR THE 2030 BY THE NUMBERS REPORT (2022)

Key Takeaways

Renewable Energy

Use either on-site or off-site renewable energy

As the pEUI target of the 2030 Commitment has ramped up, the need to add renewable energy to projects has crystallized. Once projects have reduced predicted energy use intensity (pEUI)as much as possible, renewables are necessary to reach net zero or net positive terrain. And we’ll need more and more renewables as 2030, with its net zero target, approaches.

Additionally, buildings that have renewable energy paired with electric or thermal energy storage can actually help clean up the grid. That’s because they can reduce grid stress during peak times, preventing the need for utility companies to power up dirty “peaker plants.”

Even if a building owner isn’t interested in, or can’t afford, renewables right away, it’s vital to ensure they can be added later. A “renewable-ready” building has design elements that make it easy to add renewables after construction. For example, optimizing building orientation, roof design, and electrical systems can ease the cost of adding solar photovoltaics (PV) and can improve PV performance in the future.

Fortunately, there are multiple ways to add and pay for renewable energy.

• On-site options include solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, wind turbine, heat pump, geothermal, micro-hydroelectric, and biomass.
• Off-site options include virtual power purchase agreements, direct ownership of an off-site system, purchase of unbundled renewable energy certificates (RECs), joining a long-term community renewable program, renewable energy investment fund, direct access to wholesale markets, and green retail tariffs. But buyer, beware! It’s important to verify additionality, meaning that the building owner is purchasing renewable power that would not have existed otherwise.

PV isn’t the only game in town, and the DDx also allows users to report on wind, micro-hydro, and several other renewable energy sources. Yet, today, solar remains the most commonly reported type of renewable energy, with on-site solar PV representing 88.7% of the projects reporting renewable energy in 2021.

In 2021, 1,405 projects totaling 300 million square feet reported using renewable energy, a 81.2% increase in the number of projects and 108.1% increase in gross square footage . Of these, 1,335 projects used on-site renewables, 143 projects used off-site renewables, and 87 used both.

Case Study

Sustainability for everyone: Overland Partners

“We didn’t know exactly how we were going to get there, but there was a values alignment,” said John Byrd, AIA, of Overland Partners’ decision to sign on to the 2030 Commitment in 2014. As director of design performance at the firm, Byrd takes the 2030 Commitment very seriously.

“The first couple years were very influential,” Byrd noted. “It forced us to adopt energy modeling across the office; this challenged our intuitions and made us better designers and architects all around.” – John Byrd, AIA, Director of Design Performance

But as the thresholds went up over time, “we realized that efficiency alone wasn’t going to get us there: we were going to need renewables in as many projects as possible.” Since that realization, the firm has pushed for net zero and net positive performance on a large number of projects.

Sometimes that has meant convincing clients whose values may not fully align with the 2030 Commitment.

On one residential project, the client expressed skepticism about climate change. “This was not the obvious client for pitching solar or any other traditional sustainability criteria,” said Byrd. “But if we believe it’s for everybody, it needs truly to be for everybody.” Thus, the conversation focused on things the client cared about—energy independence and return on investment. “We were able to make it one of the most sustainable private residences we’ve ever designed,” Byrd noted.

“With regard to sustainability, we truly believe there’s something for everyone,” Byrd added. “The earlier on you start, the better. Make it integral to what your clients are trying to accomplish.”

Resources

• Explore the Architect’s Primer on Renewable Energy for a starter guide on how to leverage on-site and off-site renewable energy in your projects.
• Learn how to employ renewable energy at the project and portfolio-scale in Course 8 of the AIA+2030 Online Certificate Program focused on the role of renewable energy.
• Browse through the Framework for Design Excellence’s Design for Energy principle to understand how projects can integrate renewable energy and why renewable-ready design can be pursued for future on-site renewables.’

Read the original article on AIA.org.

WASHINGTON – October 6, 2022 – The American Institute of Architects (AIA) By the Numbers report for 2021 showcases the annual performance of the architecture and engineering firm signatories of the 2030 Commitment. The By the Numbers report can be explored on AIA’s website.

With buildings contributing almost 40 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions, architecture and design firms have the opportunity to transform their practice and contribute to significant emission reductions. The AIA 2030 Commitment offers architects and engineers a way to publicly show their dedication and track progress toward a carbon-neutral future by working toward the goal of carbon-neutral buildings by 2030.

The By the Numbers report for 2021 amalgamates predicted energy use data in completed projects by 2030 Commitment signatories, including 20,652 projects reporting an overall 50.3 percent reduction in predicted energy use intensity (pEUI). Other key findings in the report include:

• 5.5 percent of whole building gross square footage reported in 2021 met the 80 percent target, an increase from 4.3 percent in 2020. This represents 161,625,553 gross square feet and 748 projects.
• In 2021, 2030 Commitment signatories reported 505 all-electric buildings, up 67 percent from 2020.
• 276 whole building projects were reported as net-zero in 2021, representing both 2.1 percent of projects and gross square footage. 67,399,844 gross square feet were reported as net-zero in total in 2021.

“The progress made by the 2030 Commitment participants is commendable and gives us hope the building sector can pivot away from being such a large carbon emission contributor,” said 2022 President of The American Institute of Architects Dan Hart, FAIA. “However, the need for more firms to participate and actively work toward reducing energy use in their projects remains crucial.”

Visit AIA’s website to learn more about how architects are impacting climate action initiatives.

About AIA

Founded in 1857, AIA consistently works to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through more than 200 international, state and local chapters, AIA advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public wellbeing.

AIA provides members with tools and resources to assist them in their careers and business as well as engaging civic and government leaders and the public to find solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation, and world. Members adhere to a code of ethics and conduct to ensure the highest professional standards.

Read the original article on AIA.org.

Dynamic Architecture Captures Dude Perfect’s Big Trick Shots and Playful Personalities

SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — In the biggest trick shot yet, Dude Perfect , the global YouTube phenomenon of five guys widely known for their family-friendly comedy and epic sports tricks, has enlisted the team of Overland Partners to manifest their digital brand into a new ten-acre Dude Perfect sports and entertainment destination and headquarters. A year in the making, Dude Perfect is unveiling the concept for their first physical destination offering their fans the opportunity to be part of the Dude Perfect brand experience.

“The Dudes have been amazing collaborators. From a creative standpoint, I would put them up against anybody that we’ve worked with,” said Overland Senior Principal Bryan Trubey. “Their creative genius is behind all of this. We’ve been fortunate enough to design a physical representation of their vision for their future imbued with all of the activations and experiences they are known for.”

Destined to redefine the city skyline, the dynamic 330-foot “Impossible Shot” tower projects from the site as a vertical expression of the Dude Perfect brand known for impossible shots. An iconic gesture to the very stunt that launched Dude Perfect’s following in 2009 while all were attending Texas A & M University, the Dudes continue the transformation of their brand, creating a physical dimension to their YouTube platform with over 58 million subscribers. Inside, fully activated and themed attractions immerse fans of all ages in Dude Perfect action, where they can try their hand at the games and stunts made famous by the Dudes and ascend through a series of floors leading up five stories to the top of the tower for the Impossible Shot.

“Capturing the unique Dude Perfect energy and enthusiasm into physical architecture led us to a one-of-a-kind project for a one-of-a-kind brand,” said Austin Ash, Senior Architect, who, along with Bryan Trubey, John Hutchings, and Trip Boswell sought to bring a wildly popular digital brand to life. With their proven track record of collaboration on world-class sports and entertainment venues including SoFi Stadium, AT&T Stadium, and U.S. Bank Stadium during their time together at HKS Architects, this team knows how to create unique, transformational fan experiences that bring people together.

Ash added that the architects were initially inspired by breaking down a trick shot into: The Origin, The Path, The Anticipation and The Unfiltered Reaction. “These key drivers generated a form that appears to always be moving and sweeping past visitors as they play their way through the experience. We want every visitor to step into the world of Dude Perfect and feel like they might just experience the impossible.”

Outdoors, the five-acre, park-like outdoor entertainment area will be a destination in and of itself. An expansive canopy will provide shade along with trees, landscaping, water features and a great lawn. Throughout the year, the area will be a hub of activity where concerts, Dude Perfect shows, community events and seasonal attractions create a high energy entertainment destination.

“Our biggest dream yet is to bring families together in a fun-filled, memory-making destination unlike any other. A place not just to come and see, but a place to come and do,” said the Dudes. “Overland is bringing that dream to life.”

Dude Perfect has not established a permanent location for the destination, but in the weeks ahead will focus on a process to short-list the municipalities across the country who have expressed an interest in bringing the Dude Perfect entertainment and headquarters to their respective cities. The Dudes look forward to announcing the official location of this unprecedented project soon.

Dude Perfect team members are Tyler Toney, twins Cory and Coby Cotton, Garrett Hilbert, and Cody Jones, all of whom are former college roommates at Texas A&M University in College Station. Their YouTube channel has more than 58 million subscribers and is the second most-subscribed sports channel on the platform. Dude Perfect predominantly create videos showing complex trick shots, stereotypes, and stunts.

Overland Partners, an acclaimed architecture and master planning firm, brings together diverse talents to deliver dynamic, comprehensive design services in architecture, master planning, and urban design throughout the world. With a notable spirit of collaboration, Overland thoughtfully integrates technology, art, and craft to create world-class, innovative, and sustainable solutions for highly complex projects. For more information, visit overlandpartners.com.

Read the original press release on PR Newswire.

Oak Cliff native Bryan Trubey is behind many of our favorite sports and entertainment venues around the world. Now working with Overland Partners (overlandpartners.com) in San Antonio, the architect launched his sports career over 30 years ago and has worked on large-scale projects like the National Stadium in Hong Kong, the recently completed SoFi stadium in L.A. and AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field right here in Texas. We recently caught up with Trubey to give us some insight into the biz and what we can expect from him next.
BY ERIN KAIN

How do you start to tackle a big project like an arena?
Research! When we started working with the Cowboys, the Rams, the Vikings, the Colts, we always do superdeep research into the history of those franchises. That starts to give us what is essentially a personality, and that allows us to create a physical thing that looks like them and no one else.

Can you give us an example?
Every brand is totally unique, and that’s part of the reason we do the really deep research. The Vikings are a really good example. A lot of people look at the final building— which has won quite a few design awards—and some see a Viking ship, some see a Viking longhouse and some see an ice shard. All those things skew positive. And the fact that you can see all those things is proof that we took some symbols, some patterns, some shapes that were a part of that culture, and we were able to imbue that into the building itself in a way that makes it feel perfect for that team.

How do these venues add to the cities they’re housed in?
The Vikings arena, much like the Colts arena, is built literally in the foreground of downtown. So you have all the existing assets—a few billion dollars’ worth of built skyline—right behind the site. The buildings we were doing for both of those cities and teams were even more definitive in terms of the perceived city after that. On television you see the Vikings’ venue and the downtown in the background, and the same with the Colts, so it became really a redefining element for their entire city.

What are some of your biggest influences?
I think I’ve always been focused on interpretive or abstract thinking. I’ve never had a personal style; I think that’s a thing that our profession has kind of been working through. There’s plenty of architects that have a very distinctive style, and when you go to hire that architect, you’re buying into their view rather than hiring them to help you. It’s always more interesting to me to do the research and understand how to produce something totally and absolutely unique. Context is what it’s called in the architectural community. It’s understanding context and then building something that’s responsive to or expansive to the context.

Tell us about some of your current projects. I know you’re working on Fair Park.
We are—talk about an amazing project! Fair Park is one of those that I think people are going to come to understand the real value of shortly. There’s nothing like it anywhere on the planet. It’s 277 acres of park that has a whole series of venues in it—some are exhibit halls, performance spaces, the Cotton Bowl, the Coliseum, the Band Shell. I think when we are able to renovate a significant amount of those venues, we’re going to see Fair Park emerge as one of our most visible national and international attractions for the whole region. AT&T Stadium was just announced as the host for the World Cup in 2026.

That’s got to be pretty exciting.
It is. We’re hoping Fair Park plays a large part in that too. We’re trying to get the International Broadcast Center in Fair Park in addition to getting the game in AT&T indoors, and maybe a game
at the Cotton Bowl.

Any predictions for future architecture trends?
I think we’re going to be setting them as we have the last 20 years. Because that’s something we’re junkies for, innovation. We’re not shy about putting our ideas out there, and I’m lucky enough to work with some of the most visionary owners in sports and entertainment. That’s always a great combination when you can work with guys like Stan Kroenke, Jerry Jones, Ray Davis and Dallas’ own Lamar Hunt, now gone but one of the most visionary owners in sport I think ever lived.

I know you grew up in Dallas and you’ve had a heavy hand in both hospitality and sports, but who do you root for?
This is a very delicate question. I’m a very broad sports fan—it’s hard not to be a fan of any team that you work with. It’s similar to asking me my favorite project; it’s sort of like choosing between your children. So I always say the next one, because we’re always going to do a better job on the next one.

Read the original article in Modern Luxury Dallas.

The nonprofit that manages Fair Park released artwork showing the wanted changes to the park and the Cotton Bowl.

Dallas voters will decide on Nov. 8 whether to fund $2 billion in improvements to Fair Park, the Cotton Bowl and expansion of the Downtown convention center.

A 2% hotel tax increase, paid by hotel, motel and short-term rental guests, would fund the improvements, if voters approve the proposal.

The Fair Park and Cotton Bowl renovations are estimated to cost about $300 million, “the largest investment in Fair Park since construction for the Texas Centennial Exhibition in 1936,” according to a media release.

Fair Park First and architecture firm Overland Partners released these artist renderings of the plans, which would renovate the Automobile Building, Centennial Hall, the Fair Park Band Shell, the Music Hall at Fair Park, the stadium and Fair Park Coliseum.

“Fair Park has the potential to be one of the most significant, iconic, monumental, urban entertainment and sports destination environments anywhere in the world,” Bryan Trubey of Overland Partners stated in the media release. “And ultimately, this once-in-a-lifetime project is much bigger than a quantified economic impact.”

The Cotton Bowl Concourse

The Automobile Building

Fair Park rendering of the renovated Bandshell, which was originally built in 1936.

Band shell exterior

Fair Park Coliseum

Fair Park Coliseum

Read the original article on The Preston Hollow Lifestyle.

A developer’s request to the city’s design review panel is providing a first look at a hotel tower planned for Hemisfair.

Six years in the making and forged through an agreement between the Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation (HPARC) and Zachry Hospitality, the hotel is part of the developer’s plans for a mixed-use development within Civic Park.

The Historic and Design Review Commission on Wednesday granted conceptual approval for what’s being called the Hemisfair Hotel, the first step in the process for new development in the downtown area.

Construction on the hotel is expected to start in December, according to a timeline in the developer’s request to the commission, and open to guests in February 2025.

Situated in the northwestern corner of Hemisfair, Civic Park is under construction and, like the hotel, is also expected to be completed in time for the NCAA Men’s Final Four to be hosted in San Antonio on April 5 and 7, 2025.

Design plans for the hotel, by the San Antonio-based architecture firm Overland Partners, show a 17-story tower at 222 S. Alamo St. with street-level retail space and 200 hotel rooms above. The tower is shaped in a curve with either end designed to be situated near planned office and residential developments within the 5-acre section of the park.

The city’s Unified Development Code does not limit the number of stories for structures in the River Improvement Overlay 3, where the hotel will be located, as long as the height is consistent with other buildings in the vicinity and it does not block sunshine from reaching the River Walk.

The Hilton Palacio del Rio, built just before the 1968 World’s Fair, is 21 stories and the nearby San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk is 30 stories. The Grand Hyatt has 34 stories and is 425 feet tall, while the Tower of Americas is 750 feet from ground to tip.

Lisa Garza, representing the Conservation Society of San Antonio at a design review meeting on Aug. 23, said the design plans are “very compelling,” and “does not seem to overpower the site.”

In April, City Council voted to approve a revised agreement between Zachry Hospitality and HPARC that would move the project forward after delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Changing market conditions pushed the developer to cut the amount of commercial office space within the development.

The new agreement extended the project’s completion date by four years, to 2025. It also allows HPARC to defer payment to the city for the project through 2029 in order to give the park developer time to raise the needed funds. HPARC will reimburse the city with interest starting with an $8.8 million payment due in September 2029.

The city will collect all San Antonio hotel occupancy taxes and city sales taxes, and rebate all state hotel occupancy sales taxes to HPARC, according to the agreement, which will in turn rebate the taxes to Zachry to help offset parking costs and other public improvements at Hemisfair.

“Each day Hemisfair is one step closer to creating one of the world’s great public places, and a hotel … helps us reach our goal,” stated Andres Andujar, Hemsifair CEO. “While a majority of the built area in the Hemisfair District will be mixed-income residential, a hotel delivers on the strategy that a mix of uses is vital to the long-term sustainability of the Hemisfair neighborhood.”

Read the original article on the San Antonio Report.

The former HKS architect known for his sports stadium prowess is now working with Overland Partners to redesign Fair Park and uplift its surrounding neighborhoods.

The tip of the iceberg is $300 million. That’s the figure that can be made a reality from public donors for Fair Park renovations as part of the Brimer Bill, which Dallas citizens will put to a vote in November. Heading up the redesign efforts for renovations on the park, which include the Cotton Bowl, Coliseum, bandshell, and seven exhibition buildings, is heralded sports stadium architect and Oak Cliff native Bryan Trubey of Overland Partners.

Should the ballot item be approved by Dallas voters in November, the renovation would mark the largest capital improvement project ever for Fair Park. Over a recent lunch, Trubey and I discussed the project, the potential Fair Park boasts, and why this project holds so much weight:

It’s a sunny summer day as we settle into a table at Mi Cocina overlooking Klyde Warren Park. Trubey opts for the beef enchiladas, and I stick with the reliable brisket tacos—but not before we enjoy some guacamole. “Are you really from Texas if you don’t enjoy guac?” Trubey asks.

The soft-spoken exec tells me that Fair Park is unlike any venue not only in Texas, not only in the U.S., but on the planet. “The collection of architecture, the storied venues, the entire environment: there isn’t another place in the world—not another principal city in America, not in Europe, not in the larger cities in China—like the 277 acres of Fair Park,” he says. “This once-in-a-lifetime project will unlock a lot of magic for Dallas.”

Trubey showed an early interest in architecture. As a first grader, he turned words he read from architecture books into sketches. His first job in the industry came at the ripe age of 15 at Arlington-based firm Harry J. Allison Architectural Firm—a company he’d work at for 10 years. He then moved on to Dallas-based giant HKS in 1992. It was there that his legacy launched.

He designed Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts. He designed U.S. Bank Stadium, the Minnesota Vikings’ world-class home field. And in his own backyard, Trubey worked with the Dallas Cowboys to design AT&T Stadium and the Texas Rangers on its new Globe Life Field. His most recent work of art is Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium, which resembles a sci-fi spaceship and hosted the 2022 Super Bowl.

Stadiums by Trubey

Amid calls to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, Rick Archer is working to build a park.

Archer — a local architect and CEO of Overland Partners, a design firm — is leading an effort to draw plans for the Binational River Park, which would span 6.3 miles along both sides of the Rio Grande between Laredo and its sister city of Nuevo Laredo in Mexico.

With an estimated budget of $500 million, the project is in its conceptual phase. It is expected to include hike-and-bike trails, soccer fields, playgrounds and an amphitheater spanning both sides of the river so that visitors in both countries could enjoy the same concert at once.

The project would also conserve the “profoundly polluted” Rio Grande, Archer said. As part of it, Nuevo Laredo would stop dumping sewage into the river, and invasive species such as the Carrizo cane — a fast-growing plant — would be removed.

In February, the city of Laredo hired Overland and a Laredo-based firm, Able City, to craft the master plan. The first phase, a sanctuary for monarch butterflies, could break ground in December, Archer said.

On ExpressNews.com: Architect Brian Korte builds friendships while designing clients’ projects

The park will require political support from both sides of the border, and perhaps more ominously, from both sides of the aisle. But Archer is up for the challenge; he is the son of Bill Archer, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 30 years representing Texas’ Seventh District as a Republican.

“With my dad being a well-known Republican, I think it’s been a real advantage,” he said. “This is a nonpartisan issue. This is not about a wall. It’s about thinking differently about our border.”

The project has secured $2 million in federal funding for conservation work. Archer expects to raise the rest of the budget through a mix of public and private sources in the U.S. and Mexico. In August, he traveled to Mexico City as part of a delegation from Laredo and Nuevo Laredo to rally support among business and government leaders.

He recently sat with the Express-News to discuss the politics of architecture, the ecology of the Rio Grande and how the park could actually enhance security along the border. The following has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Rick Archer is CEO and a founding partner of architecture firm Overland Partners, whose corporate office is in downtown San Antonio.
William Luther, Staff Photographer / Staff photographer

Q: How did you become interested in architecture?

A: I decided at the age of 12 to become an architect. I love to make things and to draw and to create. My dad was a politician, and I went to architecture in some ways to get away from politics. And I found that it’s highly political. I’ve been well-equipped for that part of the work.

Q: Your father’s work as a politician didn’t appeal to you?

A: I felt like I was a very different person, and like most kids, wanting to differentiate myself. I had a lot of amazing experiences because of the position he held – getting to spend time in the Congress, understand the political process, how laws are passed. It was an incredible education. But I really saw myself more as an artist. I think what’s been interesting, as I’ve gotten older, I find myself often gravitating to highly public and politically charged projects.

Q: Did your father hope you’d go into politics?

A: He never expressed that. I think today he would say this is a very different political world. I don’t know that he would wish it on his son at this point. Back when he was in Congress, people spoke to each other and had civil discourse.

Q: You said that architecture is highly political. How so?

A: Obviously, you have to have interface with government on every single thing you do, whether it’s as simple as getting a permit. Oftentimes — I would say increasingly — there’s community engagement, which can become highly politicized. Neighborhoods have a lot of power. I don’t think that’s a bad thing, but it’s really learning how to navigate through complex relational situations and bring people to the table to solve problems together. And I really love doing that.

Overland Partners gave a presentation on Feb. 18 about the 6.3-mile Binational River Park to a group that included U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar, U.S. Consul General for Nuevo Laredo Deanna Kim, the Binational Working Group, and leaders from Laredo and Nuevo Laredo.
Courtesy / Overland Partners

Q: Former President Donald Trump’s signature issue is to build a border wall, and you’re kind of doing the opposite. Is the project political in that way?

A: The mayor of Laredo has called this a “virtual wall.” Without a doubt, the green space that we’re creating on both sides of the border will enhance security. There are very real security concerns. During the time that we’ve been working on this project, the cartel has attacked; in Nuevo Laredo, the consulate was closed for a month. One of the things that a green space does is it creates eyes on the river. It opens up visibility, and it enhances the environment as you’re doing that, so it’s a win-win. We’re not by any means trying to say security on the border is not important. But we are saying we think there are different ways for us to live together in harmony.

As far as the whole political piece of it, having grown up in a Republican household, the things I see happening right now politically don’t feel like the party that I grew up in or that my dad was a part of. I think this park is an incredible example of binational collaboration.

Q: What was the genesis of the project?

A: What’s happened over time, especially in the last decade, is the two cities have kind of turned their backs on the river. The river used to be at the very, very heart. In fact, in the 1800s, for a brief period of time, the city of Laredo and Nuevo Laredo were a country, and it was called the Republic of the Rio Grande. When the border was established between the United States and Mexico, the republic got split in half. So the two communities have seen themselves as being one community. It’s just deeply in their DNA. I think the communities have had in their heart a desire to always figure out, how do we restitch ourselves back together?

A conceptual rendering — developed by Overland Partners Architects in collaboration with Able City — shows the vision for the proposed Binational River Park, which would span 6.3 miles along both sides of the Rio Grande between Laredo and its sister city of Nuevo Laredo.
Courtesy Photo

Q: Does the project have much support among Republicans in the state government? The governor?

A: You know, we haven’t had conversations with the governor. We’ve gotten broad support at the federal level. Sen. (John) Cornyn has been down, has looked at the project. I’m not going to put words in his mouth and say that he would vote for something, but he has been supportive of the project, as have others. We’ve had a number of senators and congressmen down in Laredo to look at the project, and we’ve gotten nothing but positive feedback.

Q: What would you do to improve the Rio Grande?

A: The number one thing is that we’re working extremely closely with Nuevo Laredo on a new sewage system, to get them to stop dumping sewage into the river. They’ve committed $72 million to do that. That’s a really big deal. Number two, we’re committing to eradicate the Carrizo cane, which is an invasive (plant) species sucking water out of the river. Number three, we want to revegetate. We’re working closely with Border Patrol on that. We are going to likely do a series of interventions upstream, which will keep runoff from falling into the river and bringing with it trash and silt.

Q: How long do you expect this project to take?

A: The fastest I could imagine this project happening would be 10 years, but a lot of that depends on political will, funding, how the first phases go. There there are many, many things that go into making these projects work. I’d rather, personally, have a rollout slowly and with a comprehensive vision than try to push something that isn’t fully baked.

Q: Where will the remaining funding come from?

A: I wish I knew the answer to that. It will be a combination of public and private funding. It will be from the United States and Mexico. One of the things that I’ve learned is that the way work is done in Mexico is very different than in the United States. As an example, we’re collaborating with architects in Mexico. Those architects are employed by the city. The project will be built by the city in Mexico. In the United States, our governments turn to the private sector and say, “We’re going to pay you to do this work.” We’re being paid by the city of Laredo; the architects who work for the city of Nuevo Laredo are salaried employees. Mexico will build their side, the United States will build their side. The initial master plan, which is our next step, we will be the lead designers collaborating with our U.S. associates and our Mexican associates. I don’t know how that’s going to be funded yet.

Q: Other news articles have cited the River Walk as a model.

A: I don’t think that’s the right way to think about it for a number of reasons. The River Walk is what, 13 miles long? This is 6.3 miles, half the length. There is no place where you will be able to be on the river like the River Walk is in San Antonio, because the Rio Grande floods. The San Antonio River is a tamed river. That’s not what we’re going to have in Laredo and Nuevo Laredo; it’s going to be continue to be a naturally flowing river. If there’s a part of of the River Walk that it’s like, there’s portions of it that are more like the south reach, that are very natural. There’s a more urbanized section between the two downtowns, which will include the amphitheater, but it is not ever going to have the kind of urban density that you find in San Antonio.

Q: It seems like you’ll have your work cut out for you, having to deal with U.S. politics, Mexican politics, raising the funding, environmental issues and others.

A: For sure. This is a project that is going to take a long time. It’s going to require a lot of partners to get it done. It is not an easy project, but it’s one that is absolutely worth doing, because I think it can be a model for the world of how we can live as neighbors on international borders.

Read the original article on San Antonio Express News

Months after San Antonio City Council approved changes to a development agreement for the $340 million revitalization of the downtown site of the 1968 World’s Fair, Hemisfair has unveiled a look at the planned 17-story hotel. Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation submitted plans and designs to the Historic Design and Review Commission, giving San Antonio a first look at what is planned for Hemisfair Hotel.

The 200-room hotel planned for 222 S Alamo St., San Antonio, TX 78205, will overlook the Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation’s ongoing Civic Park project, according to HDRC agenda documents. Plans show the ground floor of the Hemisfair Hotel will have space for a restaurant facing the Civic Park and and five shell spaces for retail.

The Hemisfair Hotel will integrate into the Civic Park’s new green space.
Copyright Overland Partners

The second floor will have space for up to six conference rooms and a large ballroom for events. Plans show “wellness” and fitness centers on the third floor and a rooftop pool deck with a bar and cabana areas. The top level will have another event space and bar on the roof.

From this angle you can see the Tower of the Americas in background.
Copyright Overland Partners

A project schedule submitted with the agenda says Hemisfair PARC plans to begin construction sometime in December with completion and a soft opening planned for January 2025 and a grand opening set for late February 2025. MySA reached out for comment.

This concept of “the Shallows” shows water features interwoven throughout the green space.
Courtesy of GGN and Hemisfair

The hotel is part of a complete overhaul of Hemisfair, which includes other retail and residential projects as well as an ambitious Civic Park project. Zachry Hospitality, the project lead on the hotel and residential portions, was set to be closing out projects last year, according to the original development agreement. But the company had yet to pay rent to Hemisfair PARC to build on the property.

The city approved a new development agreement with Zachry in April, allowing the company to pay less rent to Hemisfair PARC but pay the bill for the parking garage.

Read the original article on MYSA.

It all begins with the river. Without the river, there is no park. Without the river, there is no Laredo, Texas, or Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas. The health of the largest inland port in North America located along the U.S.-Mexico border depends on the health of this river, known as the Rio Grande to those in the United States and as Río Bravo to their counterparts in Mexico. The inhabitants of this community — both human and nonhuman alike — depend on the stability of this fragile ecosystem, which stems from one of the 10 most endangered rivers in the world.

A binational working group was established in December 2021 that solicited the design of a conservation park that embraces the riverbanks of both nations. This major undertaking included the collaboration of ambassadors, elected officials, and stakeholders, as well as local, regional, and national advocates. San Antonio-based firm Overland Partners, along with Able City serving as their design partner and local liaison to Laredo and Nuevo Laredo, was selected for concept design.

“When we got started with the working group and all the people that came together, everybody agreed from the very beginning that without a clean river, there was no reason to talk about a park,” says Frank Rotnofsky, AIA, principal and vice president of Able City. “That was the priority. Everyone understood that.” The park concept design is the first step toward community engagement and securing funding for the endeavor.

Several themes prevail throughout the project. Foremost is the goal of conservation — restoration and revitalization of the river’s ecosystem. Security and safety are another priority, addressed by putting eyes on the park and, ultimately, on the river. The project also enhances and diversifies the local economy and celebrates a culture that has been shared between both cities for centuries, represented in the annual abrazo (hug) ceremony performed at the beginning of the annual Washington’s Birthday Celebration as a symbol of these ties of friendship. Ultimately, at its heart, the project supports and celebrates this binational community.

“It’s a really profound act to say we’re going to work in two nations and actually respect the watershed in a way that will bring benefit to both of us,” says Rick Archer, FAIA, founding partner and principal at Overland Partners. “When we think about what has happened to what was one nation becoming not just two cities and two nations, but ultimately really separated from one another with a river in between, it is the total antithesis of what our forefathers and foremothers thought about the river. They saw it as being the heart of it, not the divider between the two. And so the park really goes back and reclaims an identity that has been there between the two Laredos for generations.”

The park’s 6.2-mile linear path begins in the northwest at Laredo’s Water Museum, which lies adjacent to a water treatment plant. From there it extends to an elbow comprising native wilderness and arroyos, an ecological preservation and protection zone defined by trails and green spaces where one can explore nature organically. It boasts a rich ecosystem — with relatively clean water — that is a primary habitat for migratory birds and butterflies.

Beyond this elbow, the first signs of distress begin. Effluent water is present; erosion and siltation are problematic; invasive species have taken hold. The river becomes shallower, speeding up the rate of evaporation for this threatened resource. “As a conservation project, an essential part of the park’s role is to help manage water,” says Archer, and this presents a design challenge that will draw upon the expertise of landscape architects OLIN and engineers from ARUP, as well as Crane Engineering and local biologist Dr. Tom Vaughan. The Laredo team also worked with a team from Nuevo Laredo that includes the Secretaría de Obras Públicas, Desarrollo Urbano y Medio Ambiente (Secretary of Public Works, Urban Development, and the Environment) and Grupo SILA.

After passing under the international railway bridge, yet another world emerges as the river begins to interact with the urban core of both cities. A binational amphitheater is planned between the railroad bridge and Bridge One with a series of more urban interventions.

The park culminates at the Nuevo Laredo Zoo to the southeast. In this sector, the design gives way to a recreation zone with playing fields that allow the community to activate the park. “We see the creeks on both the Mexican side and the U.S. side as fingers that bring in the community and connect the neighborhoods down into the river park system,” says Viviana Frank, principal and president of Able City.

The binational park is approximately 1,000 acres, evenly split with 500 acres on each side. “It really is connecting north to south, urban to suburban, country to country so it actually acts as a connecting tendon to various parts of both cities,” says Archer.

The river is the most important lifeline for both Laredos. “Everything you see about the park serves a purpose in this case — far beyond recreation, far beyond cultural binds,” says Frank. “As the city’s only water resource, which must be preserved for future generations, the park is a system that filters water runoff and mitigates erosion and water evaporation.” The park’s economic impact on land, water, and health is worth billions of dollars, in addition to the impact on private investment and ecotourism.

The project also deals with complex social issues. “On a micro level, culture is created when people have shared behavior that then begins to influence the way we act, and we begin to work in a symphony with one another,” says Archer, “Our role as designers is to create a physical place where that actually can happen.”

Read the original article on Texas Architects.