Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas - Houston Branch Wellness Center
Houston, Texas
Construction Cost: $88.5 Million
Completion Date: 2005
PGAL was retained by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas as prime consultant for their Houston Building Program. After a nationwide search, the Bank selected the PGAL-led team including design architect Michael Graves for the new Houston Branch Facility. The facility presents unique security requirements which must be discretely integrated with the Bank's architectural goals. These include a desire for timeless design with classical elements, and a connection to the city's Texas heritage and architecture.
Located in Houston's historic Fourth Ward, the eight-acre site along the Allen Parkway provides a rare opportunity to enhance one of Houston's few greenbelts, and also provide a civic gateway to downtown. The facility, which must be designed to accommodate future expansion up to 50 percent, will create a secure, smart working environment consistent with the Federal Reserve's integrity as a model public institution and good civic neighbor. This energy efficient "green" building will encompass 280,000 SF of offices as well as facilities for the Bank's processing and building support operations, including a major data center for data processing and electronic payments; docks for delivery of currency, coins, and checks; a vault; bulk storage; material handling systems; and currency residue disposal. Also included is a parking structure for 300 vehicles.
Budget adherence during design as well as overall life-cycle costs are particularly important; the Federal Reserve Bank generates only enough revenue to cover costs, and the Bank must maintain budgets not only for the design, but also for operations and maintenance costs over the life of the facility. Also of note is the Bank's significant design approval process.