Jaster-Quintanilla Celebrates Groundbreaking for New Trinity River Audubon Center

6.18.07

Jaster-Quintanilla (JQ) was the Presenting Sponsor at the June 12 official groundbreaking of the new Trinity River Audubon Center.  The event attracted more than 200 attendees, along with media from throughout the North Texas region.  A trio of elementary students filled a time capsule containing items to commemorate the event along with a recently released report by Audubon on the State of the Birds, which will be placed buried at the site for future generations.

According to Catherine A. Horsey, Director of the planned Trinity River Audubon Center, “The significance of this groundbreaking will resonate and enhance the lives of Texans and visitors to this region for generations to come.  It is truly a remarkable legacy project that will provide a spectacular green space for families to connect and refresh themselves in a wonderful natural environment.”

Says Mr. Stephen H. Lucy, P.E., JQ Partner in Dallas, whose firm is responsible for the structural engineering of the new Trinity River Audubon Center, “This is an exciting time for the City of Dallas and Audubon.  We are pleased to be involved in this important public project and the momentum it creates as part of the overall plan to redevelop the City’s Trinity River corridor.”

Among those in attendance at the groundbreaking ceremony were:
The Honorable Laura Miller, Mayor of Dallas; The Honorable Gary Griffith, Dallas City Council District 9; The Honorable Donald W. Hill, Dallas City Council District 5, C.W. Whitaker, President, City of Dallas Park and Recreation Board; The Honorable Royce West, State Senator, District 23; and representatives from The Trinity Trust and The Meadows Foundation.

About the Trinity River Audubon Center

The Trinity River Audubon Center, when completed in 2008, will include significant LEED sustainable features recommended by the U.S. Green Building Council, among these:

• On-site waste water treatment
• Vegetative and reflective roof
• Rainwater collection system
• Permeable parking
• On-site environmental education
• Indoor air quality
• Energy efficiency
• Water efficiency
• Daylighting
• “Night sky” light pollution reduction

The site itself is a reclaimed landfill, and construction materials will include recycled, low-emitting and rapidly renewable building materials. With the help of the sustainable design features, the goal is to obtain a Gold LEED certification rating.

The Trinity River Audubon Center will serve as a gateway to a myriad of opportunities for citizens from the entire Metroplex, including nature-viewing, hiking, biking, picnicking, and access to the river. 

The project team includes the City of Dallas, owner; Audubon Texas, operator; Brown Reynolds Watford Architects, Inc., architect-of-record; Antoine Predock Architect PC, design architect; and Jaster-Quintanilla, structural engineer, among others.

Jaster-Quintanilla (JQ) provides structural and civil engineering and land surveying services throughout Texas and the Southern United States from offices in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio.  The firm has earned a reputation as an active member of the design team, providing innovative engineering solutions while responsive to the project schedule, project economy and architectural design. Over twenty years of consistent performance has brought Jaster-Quintanilla to the forefront of engineering design.

Digital photos of June 12 groundbreaking are available by contacting: annemarie@marek-co.com