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Community Based Clinic for US Army Medical Command

Gene Dane — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:20:39 +0000

In an effort to provide our US Army Soldiers and their families with better access to health care services, the US Army Medical Command (USMEDCOM) has initiated the Community Based Clinic program. As the name would imply, this program takes the health care facilities that would normally be located on the US Army Installation and places them "outside the fence" in the communities surrounding the installation.

Our Copperas Cove office of EVstudio recently completed the architectural and engineering design service phases for the USMEDCOM Community Based Clinic located in Killeen, Texas near Ft. Hood, Texas. The facility is approximately 13,ooo square feet, on a two acre site, and is designed to accommodate a staff of 35 US Army medical personnel.

The facility has 18 exam rooms, a fully equipped treatment room, an on-site laboratory, pharmacy, behavioral health unit, dedicated pediatric practice spaces (including an immunization room), 2 group practice areas, multiple triage areas, and administrative spaces.

In addition to the features that would be expected in most private sector clinics, the USMEDCOM facility also incorporates many of the same AT/FP (anti-terrorism / force protection) considerations that would be found in facilities located on a US Army Installation. EVstudio worked directly with the US Army Corps of Engineers and the staff of the US Army Medical Command to insure this facility met all the crucial design criteria standards established for this facility type.

The Killeen, TX Community Based Clinic has been designed to meet LEED Certified standards. We have incorporated numerous energy and water saving strategies into this facility along with site development considerations and a focus on indoor environment quality.

EVstudio takes great pride in designing facilities that will provide a better quality of life for those men and women, along with their families, that serve our country.

Originally posted 2010-12-29 00:43:50.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Center Design

Gene Dane — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 07:45:24 +0000

Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment, or HBOT, is a medical procedure which uses hyperbaric chambers to increase the atmospheric pressure on the human body, which in turn enriches the blood with oxygen. The key piece of medical equipment for this treatment is the hyperbaric chamber itself.

When designing an HBOT facility it is important for the architectural and engineering design team to have a very clear understanding of the functional and spatial requirements of the equipment, the technology that supports the equipment, and the aesthetic considerations for the space accommodating the hyperbaric chambers.

EVstudio is currently working with clients to develop an HBOT facility in Killeen, Texas. The HBOT facility will be part of a proposed 12,000 square foot Wound Care Center. We have completed the programing process and are in the early stages of Schematic Design with our clients. We have studied several different design scenarios and are quickly closing in on what will most likely be the approved SD floor plan.

As we continue through the design process on this project we will discuss the construction budget, facility specific maintenance requirements, code requirements concerning the storage and use of medical gas, and overall facility design strategies.

Prairie Style Home in Central Texas Starts to Take Shape

Gene Dane — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 06:01:37 +0000

EVstudio recently designed a home overlooking Lake Stillhouse in Central Texas that was greatly influenced by the Prairie Style, made famous by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Prairie Style architecture is identified mostly by it's strong horizontal lines, exaggerated roof overhangs, and shallow sloped roof lines. Our client for this project asked us to design this house with Prairie Style influences, and after our analysis of the site, we agreed with our client that Prairie Style design was appropriate for their program and their site.

the "Prairie Style" influences are starting to reveal themselves an example of strong horizontal lines, shallow roof pitches, and large overhangs at the rear of the home

an example of strong horizontal lines, shallow roof pitches, and large overhangs at the rear of the home

The Prairie Style design of this home also lends itself to many sustainable design concepts that have been incorporated into the design of the home. For example, the large roof overhangs provide shading over the windows which helps to reduce interior glare and heat gain. Recycled material like OSB and glue-laminated beams have been used thoroughout the framing process of this home along with advanced framing techniques that are recommended to reduce the use of framing material and allow for better insulation. The orientation of this home on the site not only takes maximum advantage of the views, but also minimizes direct exposure of any windows to the southern Texas sun. Spray applied expanding foam insulation will be used throughout this home and the HVAC system has been designed by a mechanical engineer to maximize energy efficiency.

We will continue to post pictures of this home as construction progresses.

view of Lake Stillhouse from the Patio

an example of interior volume and views from the Formal Living Area view from the Kitchen across the Great Room

view from the Kitchen looking across the Great Room

Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant Closer to Completion

Gene Dane — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:05:51 +0000

view from across the street

Giovanni's Italian restaurant in Copperas Cove, Texas is on schedule to open before the end of the year. This has been an exciting project for everyone involved and the opening is greatly anticipated.

Please view the photos we have included to get a better idea of just how close to completion we really are!

view walking towards the the entrance

"wine barrel booths" in the wine cellar dining area bridge over the canal leading to the "Venezia" dining area view from main dining area back to the waiting area another view towards the entrance focused on the tower at the waiting area

Central Texas Lake View Architecture – Episode 1: Introduction

Gene Dane — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 06:01:08 +0000

The two pictures in this article represent the views of Stillhouse Hollow Lake from the site of one of EV Studio's most recently completed residential architecture projects.

Two of the largest lakes in Central Texas are Belton Lake and Stillhouse Hollow Lake. Both of these lakes offer several residential developments with lake view lots. Over the last several years EV Studio has had the opportunity to work with numerous clients on projects with views of both these lakes.

Quite often we discover that the best views of the lake aren't directly behind the home, or at the "back of the lot". In these situations it is important that the architect and client work together to identify the orientation of the house on the site that will produce the greatest number of possible views.

In order to fully understand the potential views that any lake view lot offers, a thorough site analysis must be completed by the architect prior to any design work starting. During this analysis it is also important to clearly identify other site considerations that will influence the design of the home and affect the manner in which outdoor views are introduced into the home. At the top of this list are solar orientation, prevailing wind direction, and topography. An architect designing a home on a lake view lot must be able to understand the relationships of all these conditions to successfully capture the views offered by the piece of property. Ignoring any one of these other site considerations and only focusing on "the view" can create consequences that greatly diminish the quality of the view, or even the quality of life within the home.

EV studio recently completed the design of a home overlooking Stillhouse Hollow Lake at "The Ridge" subdivision in Harker Heights, Texas. This project is a great example of a lot with views almost 45 degrees off the rear of the lot, dominant views that face south-east, and moderately sloping topography, or in other words...several challenges. The development also has a strict set of covenants with architectural guidelines. All of these realities were properly identified and taken into consideration by the architect in order to develop the final design of a 3700 square foot single family residence with "Awesome Lake Views".

This article will be the first of several in a series that will hopefully help shed some light on the importance of understanding the site you are designing on and how the site ultimately influences the design of the home. Given the escalating cost of lake view lots, it is important to get the site development right the first time. It is also important for clients investing in a lake view custom home to work with an architect that has a successful track record of doing just that.

Episode 2 will focus on the plan view of the home and how the existing site conditions determined the final configuration of the project.

Engineered Retaining Walls for Harker Heights, Texas

Gene Dane — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 04:52:57 +0000

As a result of several retaining wall failures, the City of Harker Heights, Texas has established new criteria for retaining wall design. The city has recently codified amendments to the 2006 International Building Code that specifically address retaining walls as follows:

Section 1807.2 “Retaining Walls.” Amend to read: “Retaining walls two (2) feet and over must be permitted and engineered. Walls used to separate elevations between properties shall be placed on the property line or not closer than six (6) feet to the property line, allowing room to provide a drainage swale that will prevent runoff waters from inundating the adjacent properties. Retaining walls must be constructed of a material that is classified as permanent, i.e., concrete or decorative concrete block; the use of heavy timber is not permitted within ten (10) feet of any property line. Retaining walls shall be designed in accordance with Sections 1808.2.1 through 1807.2.3. Retaining wall drawings and engineered plans must be site specific.”

EV Studio's Structural Engineering Department has the experience and expertise to meet these requirements. We are able to offer cost effective and practical solutions to the site specific structural engineering requirements of Harker Heights. To date, we have designed numerous retaining walls in Harker Heights using both concrete and decorative concrete block as mentioned above for both residential and commercial applications.

Eco-Craft Green Built Homes are Selling in Central Texas

Gene Dane — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:01:22 +0000

On October 4, 2009 we introduced our readers to our "Eco-Craft" series of homes. These homes were designed with Central Texas home builder Dustin Dewald, president and founder of DPD Custom Homes. Dustin Dewald and Gene Dane, principal in charge of our Texas office, collaborated in a a true Design / Build approach to develop the design of the first 5 homes in this series.

The design intent behind the "Eco-Craft" series of homes was to produce a "Green Built" home for the average home buyer. The target price of these homes was set at $199,999 or as Realtors like to say, "Below $200,000".

Every home in the "Eco-Craft" series has been sold before construction has been completed at exactly the target price point. In a market that has speculative homes being completed and sitting on the market for sale for six month or more we consider this a spectacular success.

Each home in the "Eco-Craft" series has achieved the highest level of green buding standards in the Central Texas Home Builders Association Green Building Program. All five homes qualified for "5+ Stars" in the Energy Star program and posted HERS Ratings of 60.

The pictures below are examples of the style and quality of the "Eco-Craft" series of homes currently on the market. We would like to think that these are examples of homes that can be constructed to meet the most stringent requirements of green building, sustainable design, and affordability while being timeless in design style and attractive in the very competitive market of affordable homes.

Clear Creek Road Project Reaches Milestone

Gene Dane — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 20:49:12 +0000

The Clear Creek Road Mixed-Use Development project in Killeen, Texas has reached a significant milestone this week. After almost two years of planning, re-zoning, utility infrastructure realignment, and design revisions, this project is ready for the construction of Phase I to begin. Application for construction permits will be made by the end of this week.

Phase I of this project consists of 4 retail buildings totaling over 22,000 square feet of space. Many of the spaces have already been pre-leased to tenants that are anxious to move in to their new locations. One of these tenants is The National Bank of Central Texas. The National Bank will occupy the end unit in Building "B" which has been provided with 2 covered drive-up lanes to service their customers.

EV Studio has been working with the owner of this project since its inception. The owner originally owned the 6 acres adjacent to the 6 acres EV Studio was hired to provide master planning services for. After an exhaustive study of the 2 properties it was determined that the most effective way to develop the property was to combine the 2 parcels into a single 12 acre tract.

The completed project will include retail spaces, medical office buildings, professional office spaces, and childcare facilities. Once completed, the project will be the home of over 100,000 square feet of mixed-use space.

The owner of this project has hired The Reider Group in Harker Heights, Texas to provide marketing services for the development. EV Studio is working directly with The Reider Group to support the marketing efforts with 3D visualization and other architectural graphics as necessary.

Design work for Phase II has officially started. EV Studio is now in the schematic design phase of the 10,000 square foot Child Care Facility and the 12,000 square foot Professional Services Building. We look forward to providing information on the progress of construction and the continued design of this project.

64 Acre Master Planning Church Project Underway

Gene Dane — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:44:01 +0000

EV Studio has recently been hired by the Christian House of Prayer to provide master site planning services at their 64 acre site in Killeen, Texas. The site is currently home to "The Cathedral of Central Texas".

The Cathedral of Central Texas

The cathedral will continue to be the focus of the site and act as the cornerstone of the new campus. The objective of the master planning process will be to arrange the supporting buildings and additional facilities in a logical, complimentary fashion while paying close attention to topographical considerations. Our goal is to design a campus that will maximize the use of the site while having a minimal impact on the existing natural features.

The master plan for the campus will include identifying locations for a 10,000 square foot Lecture Hall, a 25,000 square foot Convention Center, 40,000 square feet of commercial facilities, a 24 unit Multi-Family facility, and a 5-6 acre cemetery with all necessary supporting infrastructure. New Urbanism planning strategies will greatly influence the design of this project.

The on-site storm water detention requirements for the entire development will be designed to be held in a single pond that will be surrounded with green space and walking trails. Water from the pond will be re-used for irrigation of adjacent prayer gardens. Other examples of sustainable site design will be incorporated into the development as opportunities present themselves during the design process.

Upon the final approval of the master site plan, EV Studio will immediately begin the design of the 10,000 square foot Lecture Hall. This facility will provide the much needed space for the very popular Bible Study courses offered by the Christian House of Prayer. This will be a state of the art building with amenities paralleling those of nearby colleges and universities.

The EV Studio Civil Engineering Department will work directly with our Planners and Architects to insure the best possible solutions to the numerous challenges that await us on this project. We will continue to share our experiences on this project through many future posts and articles.

Site Aerial View

EVstudio Develops “Eco-Craft” Series of Homes for Central Texas Home Builder

Gene Dane — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:21:22 +0000

Until recently, the demand for "green built homes" in Central Texas has been limited to Austin, Texas and the communities immediately surrounding that area. Gene Dane, with EVstudio, has been working with Dustin Dewald, owner, of DPD Custom Homes over the last several months to establish a foothold in the Copperas Cove / Killeen, Texas area for well built, affordable, energy efficient, green built, single family homes.

The goal, from the beginning, was to design a home with sustainable materials, high efficiency mechanical equipment, water conserving landscaping, and indoor environment friendly finishes. There were also requirements for site friendly construction, solar considerations, and great curb appeal. And, most importantly, all for a price tag under $200,000.

Dustin Dewald, home builder, and Gene Dane, architect, have successfully completed many residential Design / Build projects over the last several years. They combined their efforts this time to create DPD's "ECO-CRAFT" series of homes. "ECO-CRAFT" is the name given to the initial four homes in the series of homes designed to meet the challenges previously outlined. "ECO-CRAFT" refers to the eco-logical and eco-nomical features of these homes paired with their crafts-manship and crafts-man style design.

The "ECO-CRAFT" series of homes have met the requirements necessary to be certified at the highest possible level that the Energy Star program offers. The homes also qualified for the highest possible rating offered by the National Association of Home Builders Green Building Program. At the local level, Mr. Dewald was recognized as the first home builder to qualify a home as "green" in the Central Texas Home Builders Association's newly adopted Green Star Program.

The first home completed in the "ECO-CRAFT" series, the 2036 square foot single story model, just sold for $199,999. That is, just barely, under the max sales price target of $200,000.

There is much more to share with our readers regarding the "ECO-CRAFT" series of homes. We will provide additional information on these homes and many other green, sustainable, energy efficient projects that we have designed in upcoming articles.