GIRLS INC. OF SAN ANTONIO
San Antonio
BEST PROJECT
Sent by: Joeris General Contractors LLC
OWNER Girls Inc. of San Antonio
LEADING DESIGN COMPANY Architecture of the Moon
GENERAL CONTRACTOR Joeris General Contractors LLC
CIVIL ENGINEERING MTR
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING Lehmann Engineering
MEP ENGINEERING MS2 Consulting Engineers
MECHANICAL CONTRACTOR AC Tech
SUBCONTRACTORS EA Demo LLC; SATex; Elevator TK; Rast hardware store; arc 8; Tejas Destroyers LLC
By transforming this 24,000 square meter space previously used for religious education, Girls Inc. has created an after-school facility to empower girls. This nearly $7 million renovation required three phases over two and a half years.
Phase 1 focused on essential administrative areas, while Phase 2 transformed the three-storey structure by introducing a new lift, a connecting corridor and various specialist spaces such as laboratories, a kitchen, a mental health area and an art studio. Finally, Phase 3 created an open-concept interior space for events, along with a small storage area and kitchenette.
The hand-crafted panels that adorn the front facade and the staircase are one of the most outstanding features of the project. Each panel was tailored to fit the design perfectly, requiring precise alignment with the structural elements during planning. Inside, the owner expressed a desire for large murals adorned with empowering words and motifs, to serve as a source of inspiration and motivation. In addition, the chosen color palette was incorporated into the interior spaces, creating a cohesive and welcoming atmosphere.
Photo by Matthew Niemann
Operating within the constraints of a typical nonprofit budget, the team encountered numerous challenges, from unforeseen issues due to the age of the building to evolving design changes. Girls Inc. he intended to retain some original elements to save costs, such as the existing HVAC system, but it soon became clear that it would not meet the new capacity of the redesigned space. Although there were delays in receiving the new HVAC system as it was not part of the initial scope, it arrived just in time for project billing.
The original plan was to reuse the existing wooden studs, but after the demolition, it became clear that the metal studs, which were intended for the reconstruction, differed in size from the wooden studs. As a result, the team had to use wood for the first floor and metal for the upper floors. Despite these issues, the project team and stakeholders were able to raise additional funds to cover any changes and reconfigured the budget to handle additional costs not covered by donations, allowing the team to complete the work in on time and on budget by March 2024.
