Ziegler Cooper Announces 2012 Promotions

"Achieving design excellence requires talent, dedication and a tireless passion to explore new ideas. I am proud to say that the professional staff we are promoting at Ziegler Cooper embraces each of these qualities; and along with the rest of our professional team at ZCA, we look forward to better serving each of our clients 2012," said Scott Ziegler, AIA, founding Principal at Ziegler Cooper Architects.

Debra Bach, IIDA, LEED®AP to Senior Associate

Work Place | Landlord Services

Carey Fregia, IIDA to Senior Associate

Work Place | Corporate Interiors

Lindsey Kowalkowski, IIDA to Associate

Work Place | Corporate Interiors

Dawna Houchin, AIA, LEED®AP to Associate

Work Place | Commercial Architecture

Andrea Michalski, IIDA, LEED®AP to Associate

Work Place | Corporate Interiors

Denise Herrera, IIDA, LEED®AP ID+C to Senior Associate

Work Place | Landlord Services

Caroline Serna, IIDA, LEED®AP to Associate Principal

Work Place | Corporate Interiors

Sylvan Schurwanz, AIA, LEED®AP BD+C to Senior Associate

Living Place Studio

Liz Friedman, IIDA, LEED®AP BD+C to Senior Associate

Work Place | Corporate Interiors

Rachel Hoover, IIDA to Associate

Work Place | Landlord Services

Energy Lease Boosts Woodland's Market

The Houston Chronicle recently reported on the lease activity at the Research Forest Lakeside Campus.

ZC+O, a partnership between Ziegler Cooper Architects and Odell Associates, recently completed master planning and design services for the 76-acre, heavily-wooded site fronting Lake Woodlands. The mixed-use site features a beautiful setting for two existing Hewitt Buildings and allows for several additional office buildings with superb lake views; including Building 2 which recently completed construction.

To read the full article click HERE.

Research Forest Lakeside Leasing Up

JD Warmack LP’s managing partner, James Warmack, announced today the execution of two key leases at Research Forest Lakeside in The Woodlands.

Talisman Energy, USA, has leased Building 2 in its entirety and approximately fifty percent of Building 4, a twelve-story Class A, 300,000 square-foot building due for delivery in spring 2013. Scheduled for LEED Silver certification, Building 2 is a three-story, Class A, 68,000 square-foot office building featuring lakeside vehicular access, full-height glass and 9’ ceiling heights, forest preserves and native landscaping. Building 4 will break ground in early 2012 and is scheduled for pre-certification LEED Gold. It features 9’6” floor-to-ceiling glass offering spectacular views of Lake Woodlands, efficient and flexible 25,000-square-foot floor plates, and a grand, two-story lobby with granite, wood, and glass finishes. Efficient building orientation and shades on its south side minimize solar gain. Additionally, its seven-story parking structure features a climate-controlled elevator lobby which leads to an architectural halo connecting the garage and Buildings 4 and 5.

“We are extremely pleased that Talisman recognizes the benefit of LEED certification for their employees and has chosen Research Forest Lakeside as a home for their Houston staff,” stated James Warmack. “Talisman will undoubtedly enjoy Research Forest Lakeside’s unsurpassed lake views and native wooded surroundings.”

Roger Soto, President and Director of Design, Odell Associates, stated, “The buildings we have designed are both efficient and distinctive. Through careful attention to orientation and views, and by creating a curtainwall design with iconic form, we have produced a unique complex which will provide an outstanding work environment for its inhabitants.”

Talisman was represented by Greg Cizik and Edward Edson in Colliers International’s Houston office, along with David Harvey and Sharma Christi in Colliers International’s Calgary office. Houston based Harvey Builders is the contractor, and ZC+O, a collaboration between Ziegler Cooper Architects and Odell Associates, created the master plan and designed Buildings 2 and 4. Other key participants include Haynes Whaley, structural engineers; DBR, Inc., MEP; Jones Carter, civil engineers; and Clark Condon Associates, landscape architects.

Talisman is a leader in the rapidly growing US and global shale business. The company is making The Woodlands the main location for its expanding Eagle Ford shale development program, as well as a number of other services, including support for its Latin American exploration program and Supply Chain Management. With offices around the world, Talisman is an exciting company to work for – focused on safe, profitable growth.

Research Forest Lakeside is a 77-acre, heavily wooded site located on the west side of Lake Woodlands between Lake Woodlands Drive and Research Forest Drive in The Woodlands, Texas. Upon completion, it will encompass approximately 1.8 million square feet of office and convenience retail space.

Recently Completed Waste Management Corporate IT Department Creates Opportunity Through Planned Collaboration

Waste Management, Inc. is North America’s largest provider of integrated environmental solutions. Ziegler Cooper Architects was hired to redefine the current design and office standards of the Corporate IT Department in keeping with their forward thinking, highly creative, collaborative work style. The design team conducted Programming and Visioning workshops with the client and end users to arrive at the optimal solution.

Utilizing 120-degree workstation clusters, the furniture is easily re-shaped. Management offices are placed on the building core with glass fronts. Team spaces, strategy rooms and media supported conferencing facilities are incorporated. Curves and angles complement ceiling features which shadow plan elements. All of this deconstructs the rectangular floor plan creating a sense of place for staff.

To view project photography click HERE.

Lloyds Register Americas Headquarters Integrates Business Units to Enhance Cross Selling

Lloyd’s Register Americas, Inc., one of the world´s most respected and largest Quality Assurance Companies, retained Ziegler Cooper to provide design services for their Americas headquarters consolidation and relocation. Through an all-day visioning session with management and staff representatives, an idea was developed to create a fun, highly open, technology supported and collaborative work environment.

Staff areas feature bright colored accent paints with clear and frosted glass office fronts. Office doors and circulation side surfaces of the workstations are dressed in a vertical grain dark cherry wood veneer to add depth and richness to this bright and light environment. Unique to their former offices, the open areas also have collaborative “Mingle” tables providing for hardware supported video conferencing.

To view project photography click HERE.

Two New Texas Mixed-Use Developments for Ziegler Cooper Architects

Multi-Housing News recently reported on the two new Texas mixed-use developments for Ziegler Cooper. To view the story online click HERE.

Atlanta-based Gables Residential recently hired Ziegler Cooper Architects to create a mixed-use development in Tanglewood, Texas. The eight-story, 316-unit building will include a rooftop pool and club room. Amenities will include a theater, fitness center and outdoor kitchen. The project is scheduled to break ground in November 2011 and will be completed in May 2013.

Additionally, in Austin, Texas, a mixed-used development called Gables Park Plaza Tower is being built, which will include residential, restaurant and retail features. The building will include an infinity edge pool, wine bar, club room, sun deck and theater. The project will break ground in December 2011 and is set for completion in June 2013.

The Austonian Receives Two National Awards from Multifamily Executive

The 2011 Multifamily Executive Conference received more than 200 entries and presented more than 40 awards recognizing exceptional people, projects, and programs across 18 categories. The Austonian, a recipient of two awards, received a Grand Award in the Project of the Year: High-Rise, Condos Category as well as a Merit Award in the Project of the Year: Green Category. To read the Multifamily Executive Article click HERE

St. Mary's Catholic Church Receives ENR Texas & Louisiana Best Projects Award

Ziegler Cooper is happy to announce that St. Mary's Catholic Church Expansion and Addition in Plantersville, Texas has received the 2011 ENR Texas & Louisiana Best Projects Award for Small Project (Under $10 Million).

After deliberating over more than 100 entries, the jury honored 27 projects in 16 categories, including Civil/Infrastructure, Cultural/Worship, Governmental/Public, Green Project, Health Care, Higher Education/Research, Industrial, Interior Design/Tenant Improvement, K-12 Education, Landscape/Hardscape/Urban Development, Multi-Family Residential/Hospitality, Office, Renovation/Restoration, Small Project (Under $10 Million), Specialty Contracting and Transportation.

The projects will be honored in the December edition of ENR Texas & Louisiana and during an awards ceremony Dec. 14, 2011, in Houston.

The jury focused on those projects that best overcame significant challenges; displayed quality design and construction; adopted innovative approaches; and were executed safely. Jurors were allowed to award one “Best Project” per category and multiple Awards of Merit. The jurors, who represent architects, engineers and general contractors, are all active members of the local building community. They abstained from voting on any projects with which they are affiliated or have a conflict of interest.

View all winning projects HERE.

Ziegler Coopers Canstruction® Awarded PEOPLES CHOICE

This year Ziegler Coopers Canstruction® project was awarded PEOPLES CHOICE! The part that set the ZCA can sculpture apart from the competition was an interactive component, complete with a mirror box and a live web-cam feed. View photos of the Ziegler Cooper deisgn HERE.

Canstruction Houston is a unique design/build competition for Houston Area architects, engineers, and construction firms. Canstruction®, a charity committed to ending hunger, is using ‘one can’ as a catalyst for change. Canstruction® puts a visual spotlight on hunger while showcasing the design and construction industry giving back to the communities it helps build.

Commercial Architecture Studio Retreat

The Ziegler Cooper Commercial Architecture Studio went on a Kemah Cruise for their recent stusio retreat. Here are a few images from the event! Click HERE.

First Building at Research Forest Lakeside Campus Completes

Research Forest Lakeside - Building 2 has recently completed construction. The design is a result of a collaboration between Ziegler Cooper Architects and Odell Associates (ZC+O). The 3-story 68,000 gross square foot speculative office building contains the following features:

• Lakeside vehicular access
• Gently curving lake front facade with full-height glass and 9´ ceiling heights.
• LEED Silver Certification
• Gracious lake front lobby
• Forest preserves and native landscaping
• Efficient and flexible footprint suitable for single tenant or multi-tenant users.
• Class A common area finishes

ZC+O completed master planning and design services for the 76-acre, heavily-wooded site fronting Lake Woodlands. Ten office buildings and convenience retail are planned and will total over 1,798,398 square feet upon completion. ZC+O splayed four of the eight new office buildings along the lakeside to gain unobstructed views and efficient solar orientation. The long facade of each building faces southward, placing the short ends of each building east and west, minimizing solar heat gain. Sustainable considerations were at the center of all the design decisions and buildings will be seeking a LEED Silver Certification or better. The plan allows the development to function as independently addressed buildings, or potentially, as a single corporate campus.

Designs for the addition of an 8-story and 12-story building are currently under way.

Dress for Success Breaks Ground on a New $6 Million Eco Building

One of Ziegler Cooper’s projects, Dress for Success, broke ground yesterday. The 14,000 square foot, LEED Certified, Houston headquarters is located in the Upper Kirby area and was designed as a pro bono effort. Dress for Success (DFS) is a not for profit organization which promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

To read the recent article in CultureMap click HERE.

Multifamily Executive Conference and Awards

The Multifamily Executive Conference took place at the Aria Hotel in Las Vegas on Oct. 4, 2011. Our very own Scott Ziegler participated as a panelist in the “Variety Show: Use Product Type and Location to Diversify Your Pipeline”. Scott discussed urbanization trends and how to maximize the development potential of urban sites for multi-family projects. The panel discussed how to carve out market niches that compete favorably with other multi-family developments and focused primarily on case studies that looked at design solutions for various densities.

The 2011 Multi Family Executive Conference received more than 200 entries and presented more than 40 awards recognizing exceptional people, projects, and programs across 18 categories. The grand awards and merit award winners were announced at the MFE Awards luncheon. The Austonian, a recipient of two awards, received a Grand Award in the Project of the Year: High-Rise, Condos Category as well as a Merit Award in the Project of the Year: Green Category. Congratulations to the project team!

This year’s winners were chosen by a group comprised of the magazine’s editors and five industry judges: Rohit Anand, principal and head of East Coast operations for Irvine, Calif.-based KTGY; Greg Bonifield, partner of Woodfield Investments in Ashburn, Va.; Eileen Lee, vice president of environment at the National Multi Housing Council in Washington, D.C.; Christina Steeg, senior vice president of marketing and training at Simpson Housing in Denver; and Julie Smith, president of Bozzuto Management Co. in Greenbelt, Md.

Gables Residential Brings Mixed-Use to Tanglewood

Atlanta-based Gables Residential recently hired Ziegler Cooper Architects to create an upscale mixed-use development located in the prestigious Tanglewood area, just west of Houston’s Galleria. The 8-story, 316 unit, concrete frame building will include a spectacular rooftop pool terrace, club room and outdoor living with views of the Galleria and Uptown. Other amenities include: lounge, dining room, theatre, fitness, outdoor kitchen and living room. A courtyard, the new home for an old oak tree that will be transplanted from the existing site, will also connect both retail and parking.

“The Gables Tanglewood mixed-use Bering development brings a vibrant urban life style option to the Tanglewood area. We have designed the building to include café’s and coffee shops at the ground level with six floors of apartments above” says R. Scott Ziegler.

The design carefully integrates a detailed brick and masonry facade, acknowledging the soft pastel color palette of the surrounding Mediterranean heritage of Tanglewood. Bering will break ground in November 2011 adding 301,801 s.f. of luxury apartment living and 22,000 s.f. of boutique retail to activate the street scene of this upscale urban development. The estimated completion date is May 2013.

Park Plaza Tower Mixed Use Development

On the fringes of downtown Austin, directly east of Lamar Boulevard and north of Town Lake, rises Park Plaza Tower; a two phase mixed-use destination development breaking ground in December 2011. The context of the site helps shape the identity of the development. Carrying pedestrians and bikers alike, the Pfluger Bridge Extension soars northward over Town Lake, Cesar Chavez, and a two-acre public park finally landing at the doorstep of a pedestrian plaza. The plaza is defined by a rich mixed-use program incorporating residential, restaurant and retail uses to enhance the district as a walkable destination. To further activate the ground plane, restaurants spill out onto the public plaza with outdoor dining and dramatic views overlooking the park and Town Lake beyond.

From afar, the podium is highlighted by a residential tower which establishes a complex dialogue involving phase one, Town Lake, the city park, and the Capitol View Corridor. With a subtle, calculated curve on the southeast façade, the principle views of the lake fronted park and the Capitol are preserved. A third floor amenity deck over looks an urban plaza, Lady Bird Lake and the hike and bike trail. Integrated with the deck are stellar amenities including: an infinity edge pool, lush native landscaping, wine bar, club room, sun deck and theatre becoming a true treasure for the project.

“The design of Gables Park Plaza Tower is a crisp, modern architectural expression, fashioned in a combination of limestone glass and aluminum cladding. The mixed use project extends the western edge of Austin’s retail entertainment district all the way to Lamar Street” says R. Scott Ziegler. The signature of the project is truly the curved facade of the tower. Aluminum panels and glass accent the limestone of the signature curve, lightening and modernizing the facade while providing an environmentally responsible cladding choice due to the recycled content of the panels. The curve peels back to express a sleek wrapper of glazing at the penthouse and terrace levels which resolve into a knife edge clad completely in glass. By integrating glass to express an inviting transparency with varying textures of stone, brick and aluminum cladding, a material palette is created that responds to the vernacular language of Austin. The estimated completion date is June 2013.

Building Design + Construction Features St. John Lutheran Church

Building Design + Construction new projects portfolio features "Texas-based Church heeds growth with sanctuary expansions"  To read the article click HERE

Multi-Housing News Awards The Austonian "Best New Development: High-Rise Category"

The Multi-Housing News Excellence Awards recognize the multifamily industry’s most noteworthy people, companies and properties. This year’s panel of judges was comprised of: Donald Davidoff, senior vice president of strategic systems at Archstone; Maria de las Mercedes Farrando, Int’l Assoc. AIA, director of design services at Beacon Communities; Daniel Hilpert, managing director at Mortgage Equicap LLC; Sanford P. Steinberg, AIA, CGP, principal of Steinberg Design Collaborative LLP; and Doug Walker former senior vice president – transactions at UDR.

The winners and finalists of the 2011 Excellence Awards were announced on September 19 in New York City at a Cocktail Party and Awards Celebration hosted by Multi-Housing News. The event took place at Ohm, a luxury apartment property in West Chelsea overlooking the High Line. The Austonian was selected a winner in the Best New Development: High-Rise Category by the 2011 MHN Excellence Award Judges. Congratulations to the project team!

Multi-Housing News: Migration Patterns

Scott Ziegler's recent white paper titled “Migration Patterns" was published in the national magazine of Multi-Housing News! To read the article please click HERE

Scott Ziegler Featured in Multifamily Executive "Landmarks"

Scott Ziegler, AIA is featured in the "Landmark's" section of Multifamily Executive. With its organic forms and undulations Barcelona's La Pedrera seems to be molded rather than built.  To read the article please click HERE

New Sanctuary for St. John Lutheran Church & School

Located on a beautifully wooded site in Cypress, Texas, St. John Lutheran Church & School engaged the Worship Place Studio of Ziegler Cooper Architects to develop a master plan for their 20-acre campus. Phase I of the master plan includes a 25,000 square foot, 800 seat sanctuary. The sanctuary design accommodates both a traditional service with choir and a praise team service. The room has dual sound systems to meet the differing needs of praise team location on the chancel and the choir location on the floor of the nave behind the congregation. Support spaces include an extensive commons, meeting rooms and nursery. Later phases of the plan will include an expansion of the current early childhood care program, administrative renovation, new classrooms for adult Bible study, renovation to the historic chapel and a new facility for youth and elementary age children. The total square footage for the plan upon completion is 110,000 square feet. The Sanctuary was dedicated on Palm Sunday Services 2011.