Masonry Magazine January 1976 Page.25
INNOVATIVE MASONRY
Halbouty Building
Houston, Texas
Architects: Neuhaus & Taylor
Consulting Engineers: Krahl & Gaddy
Mason Contractor: G. W. Veazey, Jr.
General Contractor: Harvey Construction Co.
Photography: Phil Poole
Mason Contractor G. W. Veazey, Jr., of Houston, TX, played a leading role in the construction of what is undoubtedly the most innovative of the growing number of engineered-loadbearing masonry structures in North America. The International Masonry Institute (IMI) has singled out the Halbouty Building at 5100 Westheimer Blvd., in Houston, for it represents a departure from the typical compartmentalized design generally used for loadbearing masonry. The Halbouty is a breakthrough for this type construction, for it has wide-open floor spaces, which owners of many contemporary structures require for versatility in leasing space.
The architectural firm, Neuhaus & Taylor, with consulting engineers, Krahl & Gaddy, accomplished this by spanning from exterior loadbearing-masonry walls to interior loadbearing-masonry walls around two atria-with considerable exposed brick throughout the impressive lobby and the interior.
According to IMI, "The entire perimeter of the building on all five floors has no columns or pilasters projecting into the building. This provides the unlimited benefits of an uninterrupted surface unless occupants want to have temporary partitions or landscaping for offices."
An atrium five levels high is a feature of the Halbouty Building. There are two atria extending from the floor to the roof where they are topped off by aluminum trimmed skylights. Masonry by G. W. Veazey. Jr., Houston, Texas.
The masonry walls were also designed to span across window openings as reinforced brick beams. Two wythes of modular brick plus a grout core with a nominal amount of horizontal and vertical reinforcing were used for the loadbearing walls. The brick walls act to resist wind forces on the building to the foundation. The general contractor was Harvey Construction Co.
Architectural Record, which featured the Halbouty Building in its Oct. 1976 issue, stated, "Pricing by the contractor who was a member of the design team from the start-showed that this design could be achieved for approximately $23 a sq. ft. This was well below the owner's initial budget of $27 which he felt would allow somewhat nicer finishes and features than are found in the typical su-
(Continued on page 31)
The Halbouty Building's main entrance is at a 45-degree angle to the street. The entrance lobby and public areas of the first floor are finished with a dark-bronze brick paver that matches the building brick.
masonry
Nov./Dec., 1976
25