Tom Hatch, Senior Partner of hatch + ulland owen architects, was recently awarded the 2013 James D. Pfluger Community Service Award. This award is a tremendous accomplishment for Tom, who has designed many community based and affordable housing projects as well as advocated for these types of community projects.

Hatch believes that every person should have a decent place to live and that affordable housing should not be devoid of intelligent design and technology. His work demonstrates that lower rent should not mean a living place that is segregated or of lower quality, but one that is designed for the safety and well-being of the residents as well as the community, and lifts the spirit of those whose lives it touches. He has upheld exemplary design principles, including “building green” since long before such labels existed. He has battled forces of gentrification, public opinion, legislative ignorance, and powerful and well-funded opposing entities all around the state with equal measures of pragmatism and idealism. All his projects—from libraries to independent schools, medical facilities to historic restoration projects, affordable housing developments and even the occasional honky tonk—are engaged, as Hatch is, in the business of building community.

Hatch’s Significant Community projects include:

• Low Income Housing in Austin’s inner city neighborhoods, Texas Panhandle, El Paso and Rio Grande Valley
• Whole Foods Markets in most major US metropolitan areas
• Planned Parenthood Clinics in Austin
• Threadgill’s Restaurants
• Scholz Beer Garden
• Travassa (formerly The Crossings)
• La Vista de Guadalupe
• Jeremiah Program
• Chicon Corridor
• Amistad Farm Worker Housing, Texas Panhandle
• M Station
• Twin Oaks Branch Library
• Lyons Gardens
• Robert Shaw “Echo” Village
• McKinney Roughs
• Glen Oaks Corner
• Amistad Farm Workers Housing
• Blackland Transitional Housing
• Acton School of Business
• Acton Academy
• Pease Mansion | Woodlawn
• 804 Congress Avenue
• Bremond House
• Book People | 6th & Lamar Retail Complex

About the James D. Pfluger Community Service Award

The Award is in memory of James D. Pfluger, FAIA, whose community service extended over a lifetime of commitment resulting in significant community enhancements. Pfluger’s contributions to Austin and the State of Texas through volunteer and professional efforts are broad and include leadership roles in the development of Town Lake in Austin, regional planning for a national church body, education of non-architects and public relations as editor of Texas Architect, a pioneer of local preservation movement through personal restoration and adaptive reuse projects leading to historic zoning ordinances, leadership as Chairman of Austin’s Breckenridge Hospital, leading it through a 4-year construction program that molded it into a major medical center in Austin and the surrounding community.

Both the Library Journal and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have recognized the Alpine Public Library as a finalist for the Best Small Library in America Award for 2013. This tremendous honor is shared with one other library, both of whom will receive a $10,000 cash award, travel funds for two to the 2014 Public Library Association annual conference, and a write-up in the February 2013 issue of Library Journal.

ABOUT THIS PROJECT
Lead architect Tom Hatch transformed this new building a few blocks to the west into what is now known as the Alpine Public Library, and is identified as “the living room of Alpine.” The goal was to design a library that was indigenous yet distinguishable from the architecture of Marfa, its neighbor to the west. With a sustainable design, this building also includes outdoor activity areas.

Due to constant funding obstacles, building the Alpine Public Library was quite the undertaking and became a long term project. This project is a true reflection of amazing team work and perseverance. We have a tremendous amount of gratitude towards Friends of the Library for their ongoing donations; many aspects of this project would not have happened if it weren’t for you! Thank you to the library board for their diligent efforts to keep a challenging project on track, as well as Brewster County and Judge Val Beard.

You all made this happen!

Erik Ulland, one of our partners, recently won the Houzz Best of Remodeling Award for his laundry room design. For the full article, click here.

The Austin chapter of the Urban Land Institute recently handed out its first Development of Distinction Awards. Our project, M-Station was honorably mentioned among those in the new development residential category.

To read Austin Business Journal’s full article and to see a slideshow, follow this link. To view site plans, drawings and photographs of M Station, check out our issuu.

About M Station

M Station, a Foundation Communities Project, is a 150-unit affordable apartment community for working families in east Austin. The project site was a concrete operations facility that was virtually covered in concrete ranging in depths of 18″ to 36″. All concrete was processed and re-used as base for both parking and structures. This oblong 8.5 acre piece of land is long and narrow as it is located between a creek on the east and the Capital Metro light rail on the west. A green-built model of eco-friendly, transit-oriented development and affordable housing, M Station includes a childcare center, a Community Learning center with after-school programs and a computer lab open to the neighborhood. Residents also benefit from easy access to the MetroRail transit station, a great neighborhood school just a few blocks away, and the Children’s Museum Workshop and the Sustainable Food Center Kitchen and Gardens being built across the street.

M Station is the first affordable multifamily community located in the MLK transit-oriented district (TOD), the first LEED for Homes multifamily project in Austin, and the first multifamily LEED for Homes Platinum community in Texas. The minimum score for LEED Platinum is 84 points. This project scored 108 points and was awarded the 2012 Austin Apartment Association Property of the Year for Affordable Housing.

The very narrow site and the desire to have as many 3-bedroom units as possible proved to be a challenge. Our solution was to design the buildings with many corner units. This design also created a village feeling among the buildings.

The site was selected because of its proximity to the light rail and the need for affordable housing in this particular part of the Austin. The adjacent creek and the trees added to the appeal of the site. All storm water is either being re-used or mitigated in an innovative way.

This transit-oriented development is adjacent to the Capital Metro Red Line light rail station, offering its residents and patrons transportation to and from downtown and to and from Leander, TX. This, coupled with the many bus lines that serve the site help to promote alternative transportation. Having a school on site also helps to minimize the use of the automobile and the community’s location and proximity to many community centers, creeks, hike and bike trails also adds to M Station’s sustainability and commitment to alternative transportation.

Transforming a concrete processing site into a vital, affordable residential community with a school on site has transformed the area in a very positive way. Many new developments/projects are currently being designed and built in the area due, in part, to the success of M Station.

M Station leased up to 100% occupancy in 4 months and has a year-long waiting list. The on-site Open Door Preschool is fully enrolled and just celebrated their one year anniversary at this location. M Station continues to be the premier example of the “right way” to develop throughout the City and Central Texas region. The property has requests for tours regularly. Everyone from local AIA, USGBC chapters, church groups and international delegations organized by the US Chamber of Commerce have toured to development this year.