Bethel Baptist Church

Bethel Baptist Church

Historic Preservation

Urban Architecture was hired to collect and compose historical information on historic Bethel Baptist Church as part of a permanent installation in what will be a new City of Houston park. Urban teamed up with local historian and genealogist Debra Blacklock-Sloan to compose a historical narrative describing the church's religious and civic development as representative of their historic churches in the African American community as part of Houston's overall cultural development. Minor Design is translating this information and historical images onto a graphic canvas that will serve as a compliment to the landscape design by White Oak Studio and the overall park experience. 

Bethel Baptist Church is located in Houston's historic Freedmen's Town Fourth Ward just west of the downtown area. It was founded by Rev. John Henry (Jack) Yates. Collaborative efforts with the Community Archaeology Research Institute uncovered evidence of four church buildings that were constructed on the site since 1891. Recognized African American Architect John Logan Blount designed the last building, which was completed in two phases (1923 & 1950). The church was damaged in a fire in January 2005. More than 75% of the walls have been saved in the new park design. The walls will serve as a frame for the new City Park, which is expected to be completed by summer's end.

Buffalo Bayou Partnership Efforts

Many of you may have noticed some new improvements around Buffalo Bayou while driving along Montrose Boulevard or zooming down Allen Parkway. These improvements, a new pedestrian bridge traversing the bayou and 7 sculptures by artist Jaume Plensa, are part of a much larger Master Plan steered by the Buffalo Bayou Partnership. Through the Partnership “a major enhancement project is in its preliminary phase with a goal to improve aesthetic and recreational opportunities along the Shepherd to Sabine segment of Buffalo Bayou while simultaneously regaining the waterway’s flood conveyance capacity and environmental qualities.”

To read about the Master Plan, view PowerPoint presentations of the different phases and locations, as well as to donate or volunteer visit the Buffalo Bayou Partnership. Here you will also find information about ecological goals, kayaking adventures and the many events and recreational opportunities found along the bayou. Buffalo Bayou is Houston's greatest natural resource, take advantage of it!

Posted by: Megan Dickey, LEED AP

Lilly Grove Missionary Baptist Church

Lilly Grove Missionary Baptist Church recently hired Urban Architecture to assist with their long range planning with the development of a Master Plan for their campus in Southeast Houston. In its 50 year history, Lilly Grove MBC has grown from a small wood frame building in Houston's Historic Third Ward community to a 1200 seat sanctuary and 40,000 SF Family Life Center on a 13 acre campus in the LaSalette / South Union community. With an average yearly growth of 6.3%, the church currently serves a membership of 7,000 that extends beyond the Houston City limits. Services are broadcasted throughout the world via internet, radio, and television. In 2004, Lilly Grove MBC has expanded abroad with the establishment of a church in Haiti - Lilly Grove MBC at Cabaret. The Haiti campus includes a sanctuary, school, and medical clinic. As Lilly Grove MBC continues to grow and serve the ecumenical and civic needs of its membership locally and abroad, Urban Architecture looks forward to their requests for professional architectural services.

Harris County Pct. 4 Central Facility Construction Progress

Harris County Precinct 4 Central Facility

Check out the construction progress at Harris County Precinct 4 Central Facility:

The New Panama Canal

...and how it will affect Houston.

by: Paul E. Martin, AIA

Not much of a secret; the Panama Canal is being widened and lengthened to accommodate super tankers and super cargo ships. The $30 billion+ project began construction in 2007 and is scheduled for completion in 2014.

The impetus to do so came from the increased trade between the United States and China and the growth of ships greater than the capacity that the Panama Canal can now accommodate. Currently 4% of all world trade passes through the Panama Canal. Some sources anticipate that cargo passing through the canal will increase by 50%. A modest sum by most standards, however others anticipate that the impact will be double and much of the destination ports for the United States will move from the eastern and western ports to Gulf ports. The largest of the Gulf ports, Houston, will be supported by recent construction of the Bayport Super Port, widening and deepening of the Houston Ship Chanel, security upgrades and the existing inter-modal system of distribution. Other ports that will benefit are Galveston, New Orleans and Tampa...

Steps in the Green Direction...

Regional Priority credits are a step in the right direction in LEED v3. In an attempt to make certain LEED credits more applicable for specific regions, the USGBC has created 'Regional Priority' credits. These are not new credits, they are basically bonus points for achieving pre-existing credits that have been deemed important in your region by the local USGBC Chapter, varying by zip code.

Each local chapter was limited to selecting 6 of the pre-existing credits to award additional credit for. However, even if a building satisfies the requirment for all 6, you are limited to receiving only 4 points.
The credits that the Greater Houston Area Chapter has selected are...

Historic Preservation

A 'Road Map' to Historic Preservation

by: Crystal Y. Granger, Associate

Revitalizing the Spirit of a Community through the preservation of the built environment benifits the City at large economically, socially, and visually. Why is it such a hard-sell?

The City of San Antonio has profited greatly from their preservation efforts with the restoration of the Alamo and numerous historic homes, hotels, businesses, and landscape features.

Both the City of Houston and Harris County are a melting pot of cultures and the fruit of their occupation. Stewardship of all resources must maintain a measurable level of accountability to ensure the integrity of our development. A pattern of economic gems and rich cultural development has been woven into the fabric of Houston's history providing a vignette of achievements that makes our City an international icon.

In an effort to start an ongoing dicussion on preservation efforts in Houston/Harris County, I echo previous inquiries from community meetings on the subject:

• What is required for Houston to be a considered a city that values its history?
• How can this be achieved?
• What are the specific issues that are hindering our historic preservation efforts?
• What should be included in the characteristics, strategic scope, and the execution of a 'Historic Road Map' in our city?