News and Media

Houston Chronicle

Archway Properties will break ground on the first of two planned buildings in The Woodlands after pre-leasing half of the space to GeoSouthern Energy Corp. Kirksey Architecture designed the property, which features a curved glass design, high-end finishes, and a separate parking garage.

Architizer
Aspiring to move in a more “family-friendly” direction, the YMCA replaced an existing structure in downtown Houston with a new 115,000-sf facility flooded with natural light. Designed by Kirksey Architecture, the LEED Gold-Certified building has a 40-ft fritted-glass curtain wall that serves as a window onto the streets below and a showcase for the healthy activity inside.

Houston Chronicle
Developers are planning a 20-story office tower for Noble Energy, a project that will create a corporate campus spanning nearly 1 million square feet for the Houston-based independent energy firm.

Houston Chronicle
Kirksey designed the tower, and Principal Real Estate Investors is a development partner. Wells Fargo Bank and U.S. Bank provided construction financing, and Balfour Beatty Construction is the general contractor. Aaron Thielhorn, Kevin Schmok and Brandon Houston with Trammell Crow and Joe Wanninger with Principal Real Estate Investors will lead the development team. Leasing will be handled by Cody Armbrister and Steve Rocher with CBRE’s Houston office.

Houston Business Journal
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic’s $36 million, 170,000-square-foot medical office building on 18 acres should be complete in early 2013. About a mile away, construction started last month on a $15 million, 55,000-square-foot medical office building, designed by Kirksey, on 10 acres...

Houston Chronicle
Those partners include local architect and runner Bob Inaba, who had approached the city's Parks and Recreation Department about refurbishing the area this year, not realizing HARRA was considering the project. The two joined forces, and Inaba, an executive vice president at Kirksey Architecture, came up with a design. The new deck, about 30 percent larger than the current 1,100 square feet, will be partially covered by a shade-providing trellis.

CityCentre Three has welcomed Texas A&M University's Mays School of Business as its first tenant. The project team of Muñoz + Albin, Kirksey and Hoar Construction is building CityCentre Four next door.

Houston Chronicle
CityCentre Three has welcomed Texas A&M University's Mays School of Business as its first tenant. The project team of Muñoz + Albin, Kirksey and Hoar Construction is building CityCentre Four next door.

Texas Society of Architects

The Texas Society of Architects announces its 2012 Honor Awards. The annual awards recognize exceptional members, firms, individuals, and organizations for their outstanding achievements in support of the profession of architecture, the built environment, and the quality of life in Texas.
 

To learn more please visit https://texasarchitects.org/.

Houston Business Journal

Kelsey-Seybold Clinic is building a clinic in Pasadena that will more than double the size of its existing location. Kirksey Architecture is designing the clinic, and Gamma Construction Co. is the general contractor. Construction is expected to be complete in spring 2013.

Houston Chronicle

John Kirksey / Kirksey Architecture: It could be a transformative development if the buyer has the capital and vision to make it happen, but the field of buyers is narrowed by the size of the initial capital outlay. That buyer would also need the support of the city of Houston in improving the surrounding public infrastructure.

Houston Chronicle

The Houston Area Safety Council has broken ground on a safety training campus in Pasadena. Designed by Kirksey Architecture and to be completed in 2013 by Tellepsen Builders, the initial phase will include multiple buildings as part of a 67,000-square-foot campus, including a 220-seat auditorium, a computer lab with 725 workstations and parking for 800 vehicles.

Texas Architect

Kirksey's Tellepsen Family Downtown YMCA project is featured on the cover of the July/August issue of Texas Architect and appears in the "Healthcare and Wellness" section.

Houston Chronicle

Demand for office space in west Houston has developers scrambling to put buildings on the ground. They’re betting on continued strength in the energy sector, which has been driving the office market in this part of town. Most of the following buildings are proposed, but a few are already under construction.

Houston Chronicle

Granite Properties is planning a 200,000-square-foot office building just outside The Woodlands in anticipation of growing demand for office space…Granite's site is on Vision Park Boulevard just off I-45. Architecture firm Kirksey designed the eight-story building...

Houston Chronicle

The deck near the Memorial Park Tennis Center has provided more than a spot to do post-run push-ups for the past 20 years or so..."Memorial Park is one of the greatest urban parks in the country. So many runners use it, I thought it might be good to redesign the deck and get some shade and make it look a little better, to what it should be, given its stature in the community," said Inaba, an executive vice president at Kirksey Architecture.

Houston Business Journal

The real estate arm of a large European conglomerate has selected Houston’s Energy Corridor as the site for its first U.S. office development. The Netherlands-based Stena Realty Group plans to break ground in six to nine months on the first of two Class A office buildings [designed by Kirksey Architecture].

Interiors & Sources

Although designers and architects typically don’t select the art for public projects, they do have a say. Here’s how to ensure the artwork chosen for your next project complements your final design. Kirksey's Brian Malarkey and Gary Machicek provided information for this article.

ARCHITECT

The new 115,000-sf Tellepsen Family Downtown YMCA replaces the former 1941 facility (after feasibility studies concluded replacement was the best solution) and serves the needs of a revitalizing downtown. The design incorporates elements from the original structure and graphically tells the history of the YMCA and the Tellepsen family, for whom the building is named. Expected to achieve LEED Gold, this flagship YMCA is community-focused and supports the Y’s mission to create healthy spirits, minds, and bodies for all.

URBAN LAND

Ten community/recreation centers model design strategies and partnerships for strengthening communities.

These days, recreation centers go far beyond simply offering fitness classes and equipment, swimming pools, and basketball courts. Contemporary facilities often serve as a social hub, incorporating educational programs and health care services and hosting community meetings and performances. Because they tend to bring