The Legacy Ledger by HBL Architects. February 2010

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The Legacy Ledger, The official e-newsletter of HBL Architects, HBL Architects, A legacy of landmarks. www.hbl-architects.com February 2010

A Defining Image
Introducing: A legacy of landmarks As many of you know, we have recently launched our new image -- a legacy of landmarks. Inspired by elements of nature, the look captures the rich history and personality of our firm. Our goal is to leave a mark on the organizations and congregations we work with by creating landmarks that become a part of the community's legacy. There are three separate goal legacies. 'A legacy of listening,' expresses HBLA's pledge to listen to client's needs carefully to hear even unspoken wishes. 'A legacy of longevity,' demonstrates HBLA's history of making designs that set the stage for long-term prosperity in the constantly growing communities and congregations the firm serves. 'A legacy of lending a hand,' showcases HBLA's commitment to community; the firm believes that 'giving back' goes beyond planning and designing structures, and so HBLA faithfully contributes time and effort to charitable and progressive organizations. We believe this new message captures exactly what our mission has been since HBLA's founding, which is to create more valuable, healthy, secure and sustainable buildings and cityscapes that leave a mark on communities and congregations for years to come.

HBLA's Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church Wins Texas Construction Best Religious Project of '09 In taking on the Master Plan of Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church, a surprising solution arose that not only met the growing congregation's needs but also proved to be the defining element of the building's structural framework. We first laid out a cruciform (cross-shaped) footprint with a 40-foot diameter dome and 100-foot tall bell tower. Design in hand, we held our initial meeting with consultant engineers who pointed out, nervously, that the four columns needed to support the nearly 600 tons of load on the structural system had inadvertently been omitted. Equally nervous, we responded that we simply did not want any obstructions to the view and volume of the space. From this seemingly impossible scenario, a solution evolved that featured 'parallel chord' or 'common box' steel trusses, a common element in long-span structural engineering, such as bridge design. The result was a worship space with seating for nearly 1,700 people and sight lines that could rival the most modern performance halls.

Since its completion, the project has been featured as the cover article in the March/April issue of Britain's Church Building and Fretz Construction Company won a 2008-2009 Associated General Contractors Texas Building Branch Outstanding Construction Award for the project. In addition, we proudly announce the receipt of the McGraw-Hill Texas Construction Best Religious Project of '09 Award. McGraw-Hill annually honors the building teams that created the year's best projects statewide. These extraordinary projects are selected by juries of local prominent industry professionals. Categories awarded cover a variety of building and highway/heavy categories - from Best Commercial Project to Best Highway Project and many more.

St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church Nassau Bay, Texas Needing an innovative way to renovate its cramped, one-building campus, St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church came to HBL Architects. We designed a Master Plan that relocated all administrative offices to a specific wing, and the existing church was repurposed as a parish hall. The plan provided a new worship facility and more room for social services and youth activities. In addition, we added a daily mass chapel, choir rehearsal area and bookstore. A central narthex tied together all aspects of the building, providing a large fellowship area and helping visitors navigate the facility. [image of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church] [Featured Employee] Get to know: Dan Barnum, FAIA Elevated to the AIA College of Fellows one year ago this month, Dan Barnum is this issue's featured architect.
Education: Rice Institute, BA, 1960; Rice University, BArch, 1964
Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Family: Daughter Betsy Morris, son-in-law Buddy Morris, grandchildren Katie, Ryan and Bradford Morris; Son Jeff Barnum, daughter-in-law Louisa Oliver-Barnum, grandchildren Iren and Farranika Barnum
Hobbies: Travel
Favorite movie: Dr. Zhivago
Favorite restaurant(s): The Raven Grille and 13 Celsius
Favorite vacation spot: Provence, France
Hidden talent: Photography

A Little-Known Fact:
Who had this dome idea? Michaelangelo is well-known for having designed the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, but where was this revolutionary dome design first used and by whom? On the Florence Cathedral by Filippo Brunelleschi. The base of the great dome is prevented from splaying outward by an encircling iron chain, which eliminates the need for massive buttressing. According to an old story, Brunelleschi won a competition for the commission of the Florence Cathedral in 1417 by persuading the judges to ask the competitors to stand an egg on its end on smooth marble. After the others failed, Brunelleschi, in an early example of lateral thinking, neatly smashed one end, and the egg stood upright easily.

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