HOUSTON FOOD BANK. A Case Study

Transcription

1 HOUSTON FOOD BANK A Case Study

2 Revitalizing an abandoned 30-year old, 308,000-square foot warehouse requires a team of passionate design experts who can dream of, believe in and create an environment that is inviting, warm and hopeful reflective of the Houston Food Bank s unique culture and mission. This project highlights the activities of RdlR Architects and Milliken, who joined together to renovate the Houston Food Bank the nation s largest charitable food center that distributes food to more than 865,000 families within the Texas Gulf Coast area. The design team was challenged with designing a facility to not only meet the needs of staff, volunteers and community members, but also to support a network of nearly 500 food pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers and other agencies which deliver more than 53 million nutritious meals annually. The success of the Houston Food Bank renovation is due to the fact that all team members understood the importance of this project from its inception. We intuitively knew that it would be more than a food warehouse; it would be a beacon of hope throughout Southeast Texas. Under tight schedules and budget constrictions, we worked together to make this happen. - Lorie Westrick, AIA, LEED AP, principal at RdlR Architects 2

3 Houston Food Bank exterior The new facility includes a volunteer center, several community rooms, as well as a café to offer an enjoyable experience for staff and volunteers. Working within the warehouse s existing structures, the design team used bright colors and super-graphical design elements to bring the building to life. The second floor, which is accessible to everyone including employees, visitors and volunteers contains close to 6,000 yards of carpet and outfits open and private offices, hallways and larger conference rooms. Variations of Milliken s award-winning Sound and Fury collection in the Gesture pattern are incorporated throughout most of the second floor. Featuring solid accents, the 50-centimeter tiles also contain different characteristics that act as an important part of wayfinding for the interior. The carpet s color and texture work integrally with the lighting to serve as focal points that highlight key spaces including waiting areas, entry points, conference rooms and print stations. Because the building is so vast, it was important to make the Houston Food Bank as inviting and intuitive as possible. This project allowed us to use colors, textures and finishes to tell our story through every part of the space. - Brian Greene, Houston Food Bank CEO Gesture in Rhythm, ashlar tile installation 3

4 I like to specify Milliken carpet because sustainability is already built in to the product it s a given. - Theodora Batchvarova, former RdlR Architects designer While the aesthetic quality of the interior and thus carpet design was important for the Houston Food Bank team, following LEED and sustainability standards was also a central objective. Milliken s Sound and Fury collection uses Aquafil Econyl 75 yarn, a high-performance fiber with 70 percent recycled content, offering strength and life cycle comparable to fiber crafted from 100 percent virgin polymer. The total recycled content of a Sound and Fury tile is 44 percent. Additional sustainability attributes of Milliken floor covering include: Manufactured by a carbon neutral carpet company meeting aggressive goals, including zero waste, carbon negative and green energy initiatives Certified to NSF 140, SMaRT, Leonardo Academy s Cleaner and Greener and CRI Green Label Plus PVC free for all North American products Certified to ISO through third party auditing 4

5 Carpet and fiber content, as well as durability, were key factors when deciding on flooring solutions for the Houston Food Bank s second floor. Milliken s Sound and Fury collection was an ideal fit because it offered: A wear rating for heavy traffic applications, ensuring the carpet would withstand years of high foot traffic The ability for small sections of tile to be easily replaced and maintained A smooth installation As manufacturers, we believe it s our role to provide a platform for inspiration and the tools to create new aesthetics and sustainable offerings for interiors. In the end, the Houston Food Bank thanked us for a beautiful installation. - Rick Shimaitis, Milliken Sales Associate Visit millikencarpet.com for more information. Customer Concierge (USA and Canada)