Rio Grande Gym Renovation (adaptive reuse)

Project Manager: Robert Ryland 223-1036

Architect: BLGY, Inc.

Construction Manager: Bartlett-Cocke

Overview:
The old Austin High School gymnasium on West Avenue is being transformed. An entire second floor will be added inside to provide more classrooms and faculty offices for ACC’s busiest campus. The renovated building will provide more than 38,000 square feet to alleviate crowding at the Main Building and will ultimately house a new central plant for heating and cooling the entire campus. The exterior appearance of the gymnasium will be maintained as faithfully as possible. The adjacent Band Hall has been removed for technical and code demands on the property; it will, however, be replaced by a new landscaped courtyard. The re-design of the old building proved challenging but will result in an efficient and modern academic building. Construction began early this year and is on track to open for Summer 2010.

STREET CLOSURE NOTICE - September 22, 2009
1200 Block of West Avenue will be reduced to one lane for much of the next three weeks, weather permitting. We have requested permission from the City of Austin for more weekend closure hours in order to hasten completion of the water line work.

11/2/09 Updates:

Photo: As the interior work progresses, the classrooms on the third floor are taking shape.

Photo: Every effort was made to promote natural light in the space, including the enlargement of window openings.

Photo: Much of the original gymnasium structure will be left exposed.

9/22/09 Update:
Photo: The structure for the new third floor is complete. About half of the floor deck is down, with the rest to follow this week. The new central stair has been installed.

Photo: The new rear stair structure is installed.

Photo: The first floor walls have all been framed. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing rough-ins are essentially complete.

8/12/09 Update:

The street work is on schedule to begin August 13; all neighbors in the surrounding area have been notified by mail. Work continues on site utilities and initial rough-in of plumbing in the building. Roof work continues, including new harness tie-off points that will improve safety for any maintenance or inspection to be performed in the future. Grading for the new central plant building pad is complete, and preparations for the concrete slab are under way.

07/28/09 Update:

We will be installing a new water line in West Avenue between 12th Street and 13 ½ Street. The work will entail a partial closing of West Avenue from August 13 to August 24. The contractor will make every effort to reduce the effect on traffic in the area. Any changes or updates to the schedule will be posted here.

Photo July 28 - Restoration of the masonry exterior of the existing shell has begun:

Photo July 28 - Excavation of the rear of the site continues to prepare the slab for the new central plant building:

Photo July 24 - The existing wood floor joists are being improved with metal bridging straps:

06/24/09 Update:

Site work continues this week, mostly excavation and debris removal. Inside the shell, the elevator pit has been dug and the concrete floor and walls are poured. The elevator pit is conventional construction. The floor is a slab-on-grade and the walls were formed with plywood.

The new utility trench will connect the new central plant with the main campus.

Most of the roof deck has been replaced.

06/12/09 Update:

Interior demolition is nearly complete and pier drilling for new structure has begun. In the coming weeks you will see mainly site work – trenching for utilities, etc. – under way on the exterior. We do not expect any significant impacts on the area for some time (street lane closures, for example). We are still on track to open for summer semester of 2010.

5/18/09 Update:

As the demolition continues, all asbestos-containing materials are removed from the roof and parapets. Very shortly, the entire building will be completely free of all asbestos and lead paint.

02/10/09 Update:

Bartlett-Cocke Construction will be mobilizing this week to begin the reconstruction of the old gym building, now RGC Building 3000. This initial work will involve staging for the demolition of the old band hall building.

At some point, both buildings will be fenced in until all construction work is complete. This will not happen before this Wednesday, February 11, although the exact date has not yet been set. Once the fence is up, the small parking lot in front of 3000 will be needed by the contractor for staging and delivery of materials. These spaces will not be available for at least a year.