Alfred Godfrey has accepted an invitation to speak to Seminario Internacional de Arquitectura Bioclimática 2024 in Mexico City.
This year’s topic, “Paz, dignidad e igualdad en un Planeta Sano” (Peace, Dignity and Equality in a Healthy Planet). His talk will discuss planning and design work with a particular emphasis on sustainable urban fabric.
This session traced the history of the building and told the story of the restoration. Its character-defining Art Deco- and Art Moderne-inspired interiors required careful attention. Interior wood paneling, doors, marble-clad walls, light fixtures, and bronze metal finishes were all restored. In the end, new courtrooms, jury assembly areas, judges’ chambers, and administrative offices as well as the grand public spaces treat new occupants to the scale, detail and material of the original 1936 architecture.
In following its arc from early years of glorious architectural expression through its long slow decline, and then rebirth as a new courts building, session participants saw the results of a meticulous restoration that breathed new life into a venerable, but worn architectural gem.
Limbacher and Godfrey were joined by Jaime Alvarez from Lord Aeck and Sargent.
The award is for the Travis County Probate Court Restoration project, which injected new life into a tired, but venerable historic building. In 2016, the federal government sold the 1936 U.S. Federal Courthouse to Travis County for $1.00 with the stipulation that it would be restored and that it would continue to be used as a courts building. This project is the result of that transaction.
Juror comments:
“Restoration of the public areas is just gorgeous.”
“The most sustainable thing you can do is to keep your building, and this is one great example.”
“This is a great example of restoring a public building, where in another era or another time, it might have been forgotten.”
https://aiaaustin.org/2024-design-awards/
(This project was done in association with Lord Aeck and Sargent.)
The goal of this project is to rehabilitate the historic Bathhouse to provide a high-quality facility for Barton Springs visitors for the next 75 years while maintaining the historic integrity and meeting program needs and current building code requirements. The project includes improvements to the plumbing, electrical, climate control system, roof, and structure plus new entrances and exits at the rotunda and the west side of the building. Improvements will be made to the parking lot adjacent to the Bathhouse to reduce impervious paving, to update accessible parking, and to provide accessible circulation on site. The Sheffield Education Center and Splash! exhibit will be redesigned with an emphasis on protecting the Barton Springs watershed and the aquifer, as well as preserving salamander habitat. The Bathhouse is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Groundbreaking, February 22nd, 2024.
https://austin.urbanize.city/post/barton-springs-bathhouse-renovation-start
https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2024/02/city-breaks-ground-on-the-barton-springs-bathhouse/
Alfred Godfrey presented Seaholm Power Plant, A History Still Being Written at the 2024 conference of the Association of Women in Energy. The conference theme: Power Matters: Impacts of Changes in Generation.
The Association of Women in Energy is an organization solely dedicated to helping women in the energy industry. AWE provides opportunities for women to meet other energy industry professionals and to enhance their knowledge of issues facing the industry.
Mr. Godfrey’s presentation traces the history of electrical power generation in Austin, and captures the construction and eventual decommissioning of the Seaholm Power Plant. In addition to a history of the facility as a power plant, the question of what-comes-next is also discussed, with special attention to the Seaholm Redevelopment Project of 2012 and the in-progress Seaholm Waterfront Project.
Presentation date, February 20, 2024. Co-presenters: Ekta Khuller and Kelly Henson, both architects and both with STG Design.
The THC is composed of 15 citizen members appointed by the governor to staggered six-year terms. The agency employs about 300 people who work in various fields, including archeology, architecture, history, economic development, heritage tourism, public administration, and urban planning.
The Texas Legislature established the THC in 1953 as the Texas State Historical Survey Committee, with the task to identify important historic sites across the state. The Texas Legislature changed the agency’s name to the Texas Historical Commission in 1973. Along with the name change came more protective powers, an expanded leadership role, and broader educational responsibilities.
Ms. Limbacher is chair of the Architecture Committee, and a member of the Governance Committee.
ARROYO SECO PARK—a case study in a non-traditional approach to placemaking
The session recalled the 30-years-ago work to develop a linear park in a modest North Austin neighborhood. The work involved an architect working in a non-traditional, community-based effort that harnessed the work of public entities, non-profits and the community itself. The result is a tree-lined linear park that serves to define the center of the community with a cherished recreation amenity. By tracing the project from 30 years ago to its successful present, session participants saw a case study in how a non-traditional approach can yield impressive public dividends.
Alfred Godfrey and Adam Koransky, PE presented to the 2023 International Conference on Transportation & Development on the topic of the Boardwalk on Lady Bird Lake. They touched on the history of the lake and the development of the trail system, as well as the political context that led to the Boardwalk itself. The centerpiece of the talk was the Boardwalk design and the project’s impact on transportation and recreation in the heart of Austin.
Hosted by the Transportation and Development Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and in partnership with TxDOT (Texas Department of Transportation), .
Alfred Godfrey, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, was lead designer for the Boardwalk.
Adam Koransky, PE, with Jacobs Engineering, was lead civil engineer.
2022 Texas Historical Commission Award of Excellence in Historic Architecture
Located in the heart of downtown Austin, the once vacant former Historic Austin Federal Courthouse reemerged as the new Travis County Probate Courts. It is distinguished for its Public Works Administration Moderne architectural style, projecting a streamlined monumentality, characteristic of the Great Depression era works. As a significant achievement, the project successfully preserved the former federal courthouse, saving it from dereliction by finding a new purpose, while preserving its use as a court. This was accomplished by reprogramming and adapting the building to fit the needs of a county probate court. Listed on the National Register of Historic places, the building has undergone a $27.6M restoration, renovation, and rehabilitation to be enjoyed by generations to come. Upcycled as a high performing building, the historic courthouse successfully coexists with modern conveniences and technological upgrades. The project is targeting LEED Gold Certification.
On November 4th and 5th, Alfred Godfrey spoke to the City Parks Alliance Parks Study Tour in Austin, Texas.
The tour purpose is for participants to examine a parks and recreation system in one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the country.
Through a carefully-curated itinerary in partnership with Austin Parks & Recreation and The Trail Conservancy, participants are investigating how Austin leverages resources and partnerships to meet its growing demand for access, equity, programming, and connectivity. With its 300+ parks, 225+ miles of trails, and 67 community gardens, Austin provides high-quality parks and programs to all of its residents despite such explosive growth.
Mr. Godfrey’s two sessions focused on the recently-reclaimed Holly Street Power Plant, where a decommissioned power plant site is being transformed into a 9-acre riverfront park. And the Seaholm Waterfront, whose centerpiece is the Seaholm Intake Building, which is being repurposed for park use.
City Parks Alliance is the only independent, nationwide membership organization solely dedicated to urban parks.
After a long delay due to COVID, it’s now official. It is now named the George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center. The ceremony was Saturday, July 30th. The mayor spoke, representative Lloyd Doggett spoke, and most importantly, George Morales spoke.
The renaming is an acknowledgement of George’s unique position of respect and admiration within the community, and reflects his decades of work and advocacy on behalf of the people of Dove Springs. Along with 4 brothers and three sisters, he was raised in Dove Springs, and he continues to reside there. He is also Travis County Constable for Precinct 4.
While secondary to the importance of the renaming, Limbacher & Godfrey’s addition and rehabilitation work was the occasion for the opening part of the ceremony.
The LEED AP BD+C designation is an advanced credential for LEED experts knowledgeable about the LEED for Building Design and Construction rating system and certification process. Alfred Godfrey has earned the LEED AP BD+C credential.
LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world, and is available for virtually all building and interior space types. LEED provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership. It was developed by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
LEED milestones in 2021: