Tom Hatch speaking to SABIT business leaders

Business leaders of the 2012 SABIT Energy Efficiency and Renewables in Construction program made a special visit to Austin to see the new M-Station late last year. The goal of their visit was to promote the application of energy efficient principles and technologies in the construction industry in their home countries. The visit included a Q& A session with our Senior Partner, Tom Hatch, and a tour of the M-Station community.

With the help of a translator, the SABIT group inquired about the logistics and funding of the project. They were fascinated by the concept of a “nonprofit”– an organization model that is non-existent in their home countries. The leaders were very excited and enthusiastic about the project.

About M Station
M Station, a Foundation Communities Project, is a 150-unit affordable apartment community for working families in east Austin. 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.

About SABIT Program
The SABIT Program facilitates numerous professional relationships between economic decision-makers from both the U.S. and Eurasia. SABIT is a division of the Department of Commerce Market Access and Compliance unit. To learn more about their organization, click here.

February 2nd marked the grand opening of the new Morris Williams Golf Course Pro Shop and Cart Barn. The existing 2,700 square foot pro shop, originally constructed in 1963 was in tremendous need of revival. The Parks and Recreation Department coordinated the construction of the new facility and renovation of the existing golf course.

Designed by architect Erik Ulland, the new 5,000 square foot “low-country” style facility includes a pro shop with offices, a large kitchen, dining areas, and restrooms, along with a golf cart barn on the lower level. The southern style with generous porches affords multiple relaxing views of the course from the main level. Ulland designed this sustainable structure with photovoltaic panels, repurposed wood arched beams from the original structure along with energy efficient design and sustainable materials to achieve a LEED silver rating. One of the main challenges of this project was integrating a large facility into a site with tight constraints, which was successfully achieved. “It was an exciting and challenging project,” said Ulland.

The new pro shop facility will provide a comfortable space for golfers to relax during and after rounds that will appeal to various generations of golfers. The paramount design of the Morris Williams Golf Course & Pro Shop will make this site the new golfing hub in Austin!

Saturday, November 10th, Barkitecture took over the 2nd St. District as people walked the gallery of dog houses along the street. A project of Animal Lovers of Austin, Inc., Barkitecture brings together the city’s best architects and designers to create one of a kind dog houses. These works of art are then sold via silent auction during the event. Proceeds from the event benefit local dog rescue organizations.
h+uo has entered the competition a few times over the years. This year, the idea behind the design was to take the traditional dog house shape and envelope it with a modern and sustainable exterior. The traditional dog house shape can be seen as the “negative” or inside border of the framing. Salvaged Ipe wood (provided by Franklin Alan) was used for the base and as the securing mechanism for the plastic covering. Ipe, which is a very hard wood, required pre-drilling for all screws. The material used for the roofing/wall material is Polygal (purchased at regal Plastics). This material was a bit of a challenge to work with as its rigid nature made bending the materials around the arc of the framing fairly difficult. With a little team work. we were able to fasten it down. We’re pretty thrilled with the result! Special thanks to Bravo Interior Design for their input on the design!

Also of interest! – This year, our design was featured on houzz.com! Click here to read the full article and to see images of other dog house designs that made a splash at this year’s event.

FROM DESIGN TO THE STREET!

Tom Hatch, Hatch +Ulland Owen’s founder and senior partner, was interviewed by the Austin Business Journal, following the groundbreaking on H+UO’s design for Austin’s Acton Academy.

Architect Tom Hatch Talks School Design

Acton Academy broke ground on its new campus in East Austin on Oct. 15 and will open in summer 2013. The two-building, $3 million campus at 2201 Alexander Ave. encompasses 15,600 square feet and is located adjacent to Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s MLK train station. The general contractor is American Constructors and the architectural firm is Hatch + Ulland Owen Architects.

Acton Academy is a private school for elementary, middle school and high school students, which incorporates Montessori and Socratic teachings.

The Austin Business Journal asked Tom Hatch, principal of Hatch + Ulland Owen about the project and other educational designs the firm has done.

Full article>>

We are excited to announce that the ground-breaking ceremony signaling the start of construction on Hatch + Ulland Owen’s design of a new campus for Acton Academy will be held October 15, 2012.  The new campus of the nationally honored blended school has a targeted opening of August 2013 to receive its first class of students.

Acton Academy is moving forward quickly with plans for the new four-acre campus in East Austin, adjacent to Capital Metro’s MLK train station, which will replace its current temporary location on the grounds of Acton School of Business.  Tom Hatch, of Hatch + Ulland Owen Architects, has been working closely with Laura and Jeff Sandefer, co-founders of both Acton Academy and Acton School of Business, and Kaylie Dienelt Reed, Acton Academy’s director, with the design of this truly unique and forward-thinking educational complex.  The school’s design centers on its students, combining the joy and intimacy of a one-room school house with the magic of current technology, facilitating Acton’s project-based curriculum, which focuses on lively mentoring, critical thinking and self mastery; guiding students with their adventures in learning.

The first phase of the new 15,600 ft ² campus will have elementary, middle, and high school facilities, with flexible spaces that can be adjusted to the needs of the evolving programs and curriculum.  The private elementary and middle school, specializing in Montessori and Socratic teaching methods, plans to expand its curriculum to include high school education within the next two years. Tom Hatch has worked  with the Sandefers on a number of projects, including the Acton School of Business and the restoration of the Pease Mansion, developing a keen understanding of  the goals, needs and processes related to a Sandefer project. Tom Hatch noted that, “…we have built up a mutual trust with Laura and Jeff, based on our team’s ability to listen, interpret, and follow through with commitments.”

The Acton Academy’s mission is to inspire each child and parent who enters their doors to find a calling that will change the world, and was recently named by Innosight Institute as one of the top blended elementary schools in America. If you are interested in learning more about how fresh air and education coincide, please visit the Acton Academy website, www.actonacademy.org.