Historic 1926 Library in Houston among the first Texas historic landmarks on track to receive LEED certification
Houston’s Julia Ideson Library undergoing major restoration and expansion; Gensler and TBG Partners providing design services
HOUSTON, June 8, 2009 – Houston’s historic Julia Ideson Library, built in 1926, is in the midst of an ambitious, comprehensive $38 million restoration and expansion project and is on track to be one of the first Texas Historic Landmarks to receive LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Houston-based Gensler is the lead architect for the project, and TBG Partners’ Houston office is providing landscape architecture, planning and historic restoration services. The construction manager for both the new wing and the restoration is SpawMaxwell. Construction began in early 2009 and completion is planned for late 2010.
Located at 500 McKinney in downtown Houston, the three-story Texas Historical Landmark building was designed by architect Ralph Adams Cram, one of the 20th century’s foremost practitioners of Gothic and other revival styles. Designed in the Spanish Revival style, the library is constructed of brick and stucco with a characteristic tile roof. It was originally intended to have both a west wing and south wing complemeted by several fenced gardens. However, due to the unprecedented economic hardships of the Great Depression, the library’s south wing and accompanying gardens were never built; portions of the library were hastily constructed while much of the original design was never implemented. “Focusing on preserving the building’s architectural integrity, we worked to develop a design that reconstitutes the library’s Spanish Revival facades and open spaces,” said Bill Odle, managing principal of TBG Partners.
The restoration includes a renovation to the existing building, construction of the south wing featured in the original plan, and landscape updates including an outdoor event space and a reading room. While the new exterior facades will adhere to the 1926 design intent, the new interior spaces will house state-of-the-art and environmentally-sensitive archive storage and work areas. With much of the library materials moved to high-density shelving in the newly-added south wing, the grand lobbies and reading rooms of the historic wing will be opened up for additional exhibit and event uses.
Utilizing Cram’s original plans for the south wing’s enclosed garden, TBG designed a formal garden where an emphasis on symmetry and geometry creates a signature outdoor space for the library. The garden will provide an accommodating space for special events, receptions and exhibits. TBG is also developing an inviting entry plaza that respects the intent of the original plan by incorporating native plant materials and Spanish Revival elements into the outdoor reading rooms and courtyard.
In addition to incorporating indigenous plant materials, other amenities included in the plan that will contribute to its LEED certification include an efficient air conditioning system, the use of recycled and low-emitting materials during construction, and rainwater harvesting technology that will reduce the amount of water use in the building. The library will also be brought up to current building codes, including making it handicapped accessible.
ABOUT TBG PARTNERS
As one of the top landscape architecture and planning firms in the Southwest, TBG Partners designs mixed-use and residential communities, corporate campuses, civic buildings, resorts, healthcare and educational facilities, city parks and historic sites. With a strong commitment to the advancement of sustainable design principles, TBG encourages its employees to become LEED Accredited Professionals and its clients to utilize green building practices for their projects. Established in 1987, TBG has offices in Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. For more information, please visit www.tbg-inc.com.
ABOUT THE JULIA IDESON LIBRARY PRESERVATION PARTNERS
The Julia Ideson Library Preservation Partners (JILPP) is a 501c3 organization founded in 2006 to raise funds for the expansion and restoration of the historic 1926 Julia Ideson Building in downtown Houston. Led by chairman Phoebe Tudor, JILPP launched a major capital campaign in October 2007, and to date has raised 67% of its $32 million goal. For more information, visit www.ideson.org.
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Media Contact: Claire Bloxom
claire@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191
