Sustainable Showcase:
Two Firms Use Adaptive Reuse to Create Office Space
Marcy Marro,
Posted
05/01/2008
While it may seem odd for two competing architectural firms in
the same city to come together and share office space, it
definitely worked out for two firms in San Antonio. O'Neill Conrad
Oppelt Architects Inc. and Alamo Architects were having a difficult
time finding the perfect space to accommodate their growing
practices. They came together and converted a former trailer
manufacturing facility into offices that showcase the firms' skills
and highlight their interest in demonstrating sustainable practices
in architectural design.
Located on the corner of East Cevallos Street and South Flores in
an underutilized commercial/industrial area just south of downtown
San Antonio, the 1-acre (0.4-hectare) site contained three existing
buildings that totaled approximately 16,000 square feet (1,486 m2).
Each of the two firms took over a building for their office space,
while they share the 900-square-foot (84-m2) third building on the
site for storage.
"The sizes of the
buildings fit our firms perfectly," said Mickey Conrad, principal
of OCO Architects. "They were almost the exact square footage we
were looking for."
The firms received LEED Silver Certification for the new office
space by reusing as much of the existing materials as possible in
the refurbishment of the two buildings and efficiently renovating
the buildings to resemble their industrial beginnings.
"We set out from the beginning to use as much of the materials as
we could," Conrad said. "One of the challenges was trying to
determine what we could salvage to reuse and what we basically had
to discard. We looked at all of the pieces we had here on-site and
asked ourselves how we could reuse things in a creative way."
OCO renovated a 5,200-square-foot (483-m2) building for their new
offices to provide day lit, comfortable and open work areas that
promote creativity and collaboration.
OCO was able to
salvage all the existing steel framing of the building, over which
skins of glass and corrugated siding were stretched. Additionally,
existing industrial sash windows were turned into guardrails, wood
and steel garage doors were made into partitions, and recycled
flooring was reused to sheath walls and trim partitions and
openings.
"We were able to salvage the existing metal roof and use it as our
interior roof," Conrad said. "We insulated it and then installed a
new metal roof on top of it."
The exterior of
the building features galvanized corrugated metal panels,
galvanized standing-seam roofing, existing exposed concrete,
structural clay tile and storefront window systems. Corrugated "S"
deck wall panels and "Cee Lock" standing-seam metal roof panels by
Berridge Manufacturing Co., San Antonio, were used. The new awnings
and overhangs are made from recycled steel and galvanized roof
deck.
The interior of
the building features exposed steel trusses, a loft of exposed wood
framing and a reused ships ladder. The original steel garage
sectional doors were reused for the entry wall and receptionist
desk. Covering the north wall of the reception area are large
windows that overlook one of the landscaped courtyards, providing
natural light and reducing the need for artificial light. The
interior colors-terra cotta, golden rod and turquoise-were derived
from the old paint of the buildings industrial safety scheme. All
existing steel was left exposed and unfinished.
"Our whole design emphasis was to retain the same feel that the
old steel had, so we didn't cover anything up," Conrad said. "We
just used it in an aesthetic way."
Energy-efficient
light fixtures that utilize an efficient T5 bulb and low-flow
plumbing fixtures are used throughout the building.
An existing dead pecan tree was milled on-site, and the lumber was
used to construct a new conference table and occasional tables.
Huge springs from the overhead doors were used for the conference
table's legs. Salvaged access doors were combined to make a sliding
barn door as the entrance of the conference room. Translucent
acrylic panels are used for the ceiling and walls of the conference
room, providing the ability to share natural light while creating
an open office environment.
Workstations are
designed around a "quad" floor plan aimed at promoting team-work
and an open office environment. Each station is created from
unfinished Medium Density Fiberboard, which was made on-site by one
of the firm's employees. The design of the workstations maximizes
the use of a standard sheet of metal. Additionally, each
workstation is equipped with a separate, user-controlled task
light.
The flooring is a
combination of carpet and existing concrete that was
diamond-polished in place. The carpeting is interface carpet tiles
that were salvaged from the demolition of another building.
"On the interior, we used drywall up to the seals of the windows,
and from there on up we exposed the new insulation and covered it
with perforated metal panels, allowing the sound to be absorbed by
the insulation," Conrad said. "This way we are benefi ting from the
insulation from an acoustic standpoint."
The interior perforated metal panels were 20-gauge 1/2-inch-
(13-mm-) diameter holes at 11/16-inch (17-mm) staggered centers by
McNichols, Tampa, Fla.
The two
independent offices are linked by a series of courtyards paved with
recycled concrete combined with crushed granite gravel, fenced with
salvaged steel windows and recycled concrete slabs, in addition to
being planted with native species. A raised planting area made from
recycled concrete forklift counter weights, along with a fishpond
made from pre-concrete septic tank rings, are in the east
courtyard. Each of the three trellis entrances and shade structures
are fabricated from steel that was salvaged from the demolition
process. A 6,500-gallon (24,700-L) cistern by Spec All Products
Inc., Austin, Texas, catches rainwater and condensation for
irrigation.
"In our landscape plan we broke up the existing concrete paving
into more manageable sizes and used it for the garden walls and
pavers," Conrad said.
OCO Architects
and Alamo Architects have received many awards for their renovated
SoFlo Studios, including: Best of 2007 for renovation, design by
Texas Construction magazine; Citation Award and Commendation for
Sustainability 2007 by AIA San Antonio; and the 2007 Best in
Commercial Real Estate for Interior Design/Eco-Friendly Office
Space by The San Antonio Business Journal. The city of San Antonio
granted the property local historic landmark status.
SoFlo office studios are a great example of what can be done when
firms work together. By joining forces and purchasing a property
that fit both their needs perfectly, OCO Architects and Alamo
Architects were able to create sustainable offices that showcased
their abilities and help re-vitalize a part of downtown San
Antonio.
SoFlo Office Studios, San Antonio
Architects: O'Neill Conrad Oppelt Architects Inc., San Antonio,
and Alamo Architects, San Antonio
General contractor: Malitz Construction Inc., San Antonio
Landscape architect: Root Design Co., Austin, Texas
Fabricator: Russ Steel Fab and Erection, New Braunfels,
Texas
Cistern: Spec-All Products Inc., Austin
Metal wall and roof panels: Berridge Manufacturing Co., San
Antonio
Perforated metal panels: McNichols, Tampa, Fla.
www.ocoarchitects.com; www.alamoarchitects.com; www.malitzconstructioninc.com; www.rootdesigncompany.com; www.specallproducts.com; www.berridge.com