New Public Works & Engineering Facility Redefines Expectations of Workplace Design
Houston Public Works is the largest and most diverse public works organization in the country. This department is responsible for streets, drainage, producing and distributing water, collecting, and treating wastewater, and permitting and regulation of construction. Accredited by the American Public Works Association, our over 4,000 dedicated public servants work together to create a strong foundation for Houston to thrive.
RDLR Architects worked with the City of Houston on the design of a new 33,500 sf Public Works and Engineering (PWE) Facility which is primarily used as a staging area for the City of Houston PWE utility workers in the northeast quadrant and includes space for administrative and support services for the Water, Wastewater, and Restoration divisions of PWE.
The new facility replaced a decaying, fragmented building on the site which had been retrofitted several times in an attempt to meet the needs of the organization. Through careful analysis of their operations, a refreshed building program was imagined which would better serve their needs. Over 120 field workers use this quadrant as a home base during their day, so it was crucial that the importance of their work be reflected in their workplace.
The primary project goal was to challenge Houston Public Works to redefine their expectations of how their workplace should function and design a building that celebrates the men and women who work every day to maintain our city’s most crucial infrastructure. The RDLR design team worked to create an office environment that promotes wellbeing, collaboration, transparency, and professionalism.
The new facility enhances adjacencies and circulation between the divisions and the architectural design supports a collaborative work environment. Workers have the opportunity to interact in multiple ways, from formal meetings in the auditorium and various meeting spaces, to informal interactions in the indoor and outdoor break areas.
Interior concepts were inspired by the everyday materials and objects one may find in the field; traffic cone orange, concrete, headlights, manhole covers, steel pipe, bolts. Daylight for the administrative spaces was an important factor in the design, resulting in an open concept between the two floors that borrows light from the expanse of glazing on the North façade. Vertically marrying the floors has also helped to create a more collaborative environment that encourages community amongst all staff and departments.
Site safety was key in the site layout. The project sits on an 8.32 acre existing site which includes parking for staff, fleet and heavy vehicles, a fuel island, material pits, a fleet maintenance facility, covered outdoor storage, covered vehicle storage for landscape, pipe storage, a weigh station, warehouse and locker room building.
It was imperative to separate heavy vehicle traffic from pedestrian paths, and non-fleet vehicles, therefore the building was oriented to allow for separate drives that will isolate staff vehicles from city vehicles. A detailed analysis of the existing site was performed, and several solutions were implemented to improve safety, security, and functionality.
The design team placed an emphasis on all water and storm LEED credits, as this building should serve as an example of responsible development. Additionally, RDLR has utilized cost effective LEED strategies in consideration of the construction budget and the life cycle cost.
Since its completion in 2021, the project has come to represent a shift in thinking for the city to employ architectural practices that greatly improve safety, efficiency, and employee experience. Numerous tours of the facility have been given to city officials who look to this project as the new standard of work environment for city employees.