Jason Hammond of cultmodern.com wrote an interesting piece on our India House work back in may, and we just now found it.
We’re excited that we were featured and are honored to have served as an inspiration for others all over the world.
Thank you Jason.
At the recent Texas Society of Architects convention in Dallas Texas, we were recognized for our work on the Harris County Toll Road Authority’s Sam Houston Tollway. The comments speak for themselves.
While at the recent Texas Society of Architects annual conference in Dallas, Rey de la Reza, FAIA of RdlR Architects won a lottery style drawing and received a special prize: an African American Architect Barbie. Quite an appropriate prize for a woman-managed, minority architecture firm.
Inspiring Minority Women since 2011
Architect Barbie is the latest in Mattel’s line of “I can be… ” dolls intended to inspire career aspirations in young girls. Barbie’s resume is getting a bit long these days, with over 125 careers under her tiny, color coordinated belt, the latest being a Doctor, Chef and Veterinarian. Not only did Barbie finish her degree, she’s been certified by the American Institute of Architects!
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It is a special day for RdlR – we celebrated the grand opening of the newly renovated facility with our client, the Houston Food Bank. Over a million pounds of donated food were delivered early this morning to the warehouse by trucks of 35 local companies – the renovated building was completely full on grand opening day, and welcomed a large crowd of supporters, including Mayor Annise Parker. To add to the excitement, September 23rd was officially declared Houston Food Bank Day for the City of Houston and Harris County. We are grateful for such an inspiring client, their vision, commitment, and incredible energy! It has been an amazing journey, one that every designer hopes for – a prolific collaboration, a strong emotional bond.
Welcoming Mayor Annise Parker
The Dream Team - our client Betsy Ballard, our contractor Tellepsen (Kelly Linton, Bill Heimann, Chidi Ayozie), RldR Principals Howard Merrill, Lorie Westrick
Our MEP Engineers Advanced Technologies Inc. who helped us solve many challenging situations
Mayor Parker addressing hundreds of Houston Food Bank visitors
We wish the Houston Food Bank success in fighting hunger and making dreams come true!
“I’m not trying to change the world. I am just reacting to the world trying to change me.” Anthony Lister
It happened this week – the Houston Food Bank has officially opened up its newly renovated facility to the Houston community. A 310,000 SF building previously owned by Sysco, was transformed into a more efficient warehouse, office space, and a brand new community center. We have been very fortunate to be able to collaborate with our clients, and help them live their dream. The Food Bank’s operations are expanding beyond food distribution, the number of volunteers will grow, more families will be fed.
Naturally, the building was designed and built following sustainable strategies – a healthy environment nurtures, gives back, uplifts the spirit.
Before Renovation
Renovated Exterior
No, we didn’t just paint it green. We looked at the building and the client’s day-to-day operations from many different points of view. We spent countless hours determining the optimum strategies and accommodating them within our modest budget.
Edible Garden at the Main Entry. We will be harvesting figs soon.
Main Lobby
Main Street and the Carousel - skylights providing generous daylight. A daylight sensor will be installed to control artificial lighting.
Carousel Equipment in the Warehouse
Internal Stair under Construction
While we are still completing the final stages of construction administration, we have flashbacks of the project beginnings. We are tracking down what we have, could have and should have done. Stay tuned for the details.
I’ll say it again: I LOVE my iPhone.
Believe the hype, the iPhone is everything it’s touted to be. As is all Apple products (yes, I’m a big fan!).
And I still refuse to acknowledge your ____ phone. And I’m not really listening to you when you get on your soapbox about how your ____ phone is far more advanced than the iPhone. Sometimes I feel sad for you.
I love it when creative spheres coalesce. I stumbled across an instance where fashion, origami, and environmentalism fused; fashion designer Issey Miyake created a line of clothing based on the principles of origami and he is helping the environment by developing green textiles. It’s interesting how they use paper, the material they’re imitating with fabric, in the development of their designs.
“First, the Reality Lab. team digitally designs three-dimensional shapes, using the CG application. Then, they use the diagrams to make 3D shapes from paper; and study ways by which they can then be returned into folded-flat shapes. In order to return them to flat, planar shapes, it is necessary to incorporate “fold lines” and “cut lines”, which are not included in the original CG diagrams.”
“architecture is the art of how to waste space.” philip johnson
RdlR Architects recognized for AIA Hosuton & TSA Design Awards
RdlR Architects recognized for design of Houston Food Bank
RdlR Architects is pleased to announce our recent success in the 2012 AIA Houston Design Award, Texas Society of Architects Design Award, and Contract Magazine’s Inspiration Award for socially responsible design! RdlR Architects was recognized for our innovative renovation work on the Houston Food Bank, which revitalized an old Sysco Co. warehouse, transforming it into the nation’s largest charitable food distribution center.
The design judges were impressed by RdlR’s inventive use of the warehouse’s existing structures, using color, paneling and partitions to create vibrant spaces within spaces. The use of bright colors and super-graphic design elements brought life, light and hope to the old building while highlighting the Houston Food Bank’s unique place and mission within the Greater Houston Area.
The new facility includes a volunteer center, community rooms and a cafe to make the volunteering experience more enjoyable and lure people back on a regular basis; and serve as a launching point for more community projects and volunteerism.
HFB supports a network of nearly 500 food pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers and other agencies, feeding a total of 137,000 people each week.