Projects Completed
Yarborough Branch Library
The 15,120 square foot Yarborough Branch Library (Located in the former Americana Theater) is an adaptive rebuild that opened in 1999. With its signature Flights of Fancy Art in Public Places display, the branch provides access to over 82,000 titles, magazines, periodicals, CD’s, and DVD’s, one of the largest collections in the Austin Public Library System.
Building use, wear and tear, and revisions to the building code over a 22-year period necessitated a complete interior/exterior renovation. With sustainability as a goal Phase I began with Interior Renovations in December 2020 and were substantially completed in November 2021.
The Scope included but was not limited to new LED Lighting, ADA upgrades to the restroom, common paths of travel, egress/ingress to meet current code, new fire alarm panel, life-safety and security systems, new circulation desk and office furniture for staff, low-VOC interior painting, carpets and new interior signage and graphics.
The Phase II Scope consist of the replacement of the roofing system with clearstory sky lighting, and HVAC system. Both systems will be high performance, contribute to lowering the library’s carbon emissions footprint and energy use. The HVAC and security system is designed to interface with the library’s existing 22- facility building automation and security system.
University Hills Library
The approximate 8,700 square foot City of Austin University Hills Library Branch was built in 1986. The branch provides access to more than 56,000 titles, magazines, periodicals, CD’s and DVD’s. The branch closed for renovations in February 2021 after extensive water damages from historic winter storm Uri. The freeze burst a potable water supply pipe in the ceiling. The water pipe burst was compounded by a leaking membrane roofing system that was beyond its life-cycle.
Extensive water damage to the main circulation, children’s and computer areas, within the drywall assembly and carpets resulted in the facility closing for major interior repairs including mold remediation. Construction occurred during 2021 and the branch reopened May 2022 for the East Austin Community.
Among the improvements made during renovation are a roof replacement, an expanded parking lot with permeable pavers that reduced the size of the detention pond, dark sky compliant lighting, electric vehicle charging stations, new interior lighting and electrical work and new sound damping acoustical ceiling tiles, library shelving and LVT library friendly flooring system.
Faulk Library & Austin History Center
The Faulk Library (JHF) and Austin History Center (AHC) is under renovation to become a single campus that meets the growth demands of the Austin Texas burgeoning population. Phase I of the JHF/AHC Archival Repository Expansion is a $18-million-dollar design/build project. Substantial Completion is tracking for December 2023. Urban design elements are being introduced and renovations are underway to meet the needs of a archival repository that will facilitate seamless interchanges between the 100,000 sq. ft. Faulk Building, the 33,000 sq. ft. Austin History Center, adjacent Wooldridge Square and many nearby historical sites.
The Scope at JHF include renovating the 2nd and 3rd floors for high density shelving, security for collections, new flooring, ceiling and lighting that meet archival standards, restroom fixtures and ADA Bathroom upgrades, substantial M/E/P (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) upgrades, elevator upgrades and 4th floor office upgrades. Asbestos and Lead Abatement during this phase is restricted to the limits of construction.
The 2019 REIMAGINING THE FAULK Vision Project – Gensler articulated a long-term vision for the Faulk Library with public and key stakeholder involvement. Phase II concepts are being advanced that capture public visioning sentiment for a unified cultural destination to celebrate Austin’s unique history. The resultant concepts provide an exciting opportunity to meet the City’s evolving needs. Unifying the campus can include an Elevated “bridge” connector for both buildings, a plaza, a Café with access to the plaza, and a roof terrace with green roof that will support more community space, exhibits, library, programs, events and operations.
Austin Regional Intelligence Center
The project consists of designing and constructing an operational intelligence center to serve the collaborative effort of public safety agencies in Travis, Williamson, and Hays Counties. The center is located on the Texas Department of Public Safety Campus and is managed by Austin Police Department. The center is a recognized Fusion Center by the Department of Homeland Security. The center’s mission is to proactively identify threats to the Central Texas Region and stop them before they occur. The intel center also works closely with Emergency Operations Centers in the event of a disaster, man-made or otherwise.
A second intelligence center, the Real Time Crime Center was designed and constructed for operational intelligence to serve Austin Police Department initiatives within the geographical boundaries of the City of Austin. Assigned officers utilize innovative technology to access advanced search programs ranging from local, state, and federal databases. The intel center features high-activity area monitoring compatibilities that’s staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The two intelligence centers work closely with Public Safety Field Command Centers to coordinate command and control incident information directly to officers that are responding to demands for police service.
Public Safety Training Academy
The Public Safety Training Academy is a $16-million design-build project. The build-outs are training facilities for Austin Police Department, Austin Fire Department and Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services. Construction on the 44-acre site includes the Roy Butler Training Building, the Drew Alan Bolin Pistol Range, a renovated driving track, a 120,000-SF emergency vehicles operations course, a SWAT obstacle course, and a master-planned Disaster Village with a state-of-the-art Burn Building.
This project includes an Art in Public Places installment designed by New York artist Christ Doyle that functions as a respite from the harsh Texas summers. Scattered throughout the site are 5 “outdoor classrooms” for instruction between training evolutions in a hospitable environment protected from the elements. This project was completed in January 2011 and achieved LEED Silver certification.
One of the distinguished features of this project is that behind the new classroom building, 27 out of 496 secure bicycle storage and 18 out of 350 preferred parking lots are provided for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles. An indoor air quality management plan was developed and implemented at the project building. The material applied for both interior and exterior are low-emitting and none exceed volatile organic compound requirements.
Crown Bay Commercial Center
Yssis Group, PC as prime consultant to CH2M – Hill and the VI Port Authority provided architecture and landscape design services for the 74,620 sq. ft. / 144 parking space facility. The commercial center build-outs include a visitor information center, music pavilion, replica windmill, core and shell retail buildings and stone sculpture on the Cruise Ship Pier. CHM2 Hill provided heavy civil design services and construction administration services for the Cruise Ship Pier and Berthing Dolphins.
The construction documents also included all of the public areas and open spaces at the site including benches, native flora and fauna, landscape irrigation, trellises, planters, copper nautical site lighting, and concrete pavers. Environmental graphics services were also provided. Yssis’s scope included developing an identifiable brand logo for the facility to reflect the flavor and diverse character of the intended retail mix.
Christ Church Methodist
Yssis Group, PC as prime consultant to the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas Leeward Islands District provided Architecture, Mechanical, Electrical, Structural Engineering design and Construction Project Management Services for the renovations of a historic gothic style church located at Rothschild Francis “Market” Square St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.
Design Development included load analysis for electrical and mechanical upgrades; Final Design Phase included final construction documents setting forth detailed construction requirements; Permitting Phase included obtaining all building permits including electrical up-grade to three-phase power;
Procurement and Logistics included sanctuary lighting, marble tile, art-glass and stained-glass windows, mahogany doors, mahogany pews, lime-based plaster, silicate paints, rooftop A/C units and electrical appurtenances for the project; Construction Administration: Negotiated and executed construction contracts, managed sub-contractors and trades thru warranty period.
Sea Cow Bay Methodist
Yssis Group, PC as prime consultant to the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas Leeward Islands District provided architecture elevations, building sections, floor plans, lighting layout, chancel details, bell tower details, and first and second floor reflective ceiling plans for the new Methodist Church located at Sea Cow Bay Tortola British Virgin Islands.
The Sanctuary features marble flooring, curved pews, a curved alter, and a marble accent wall in the chancel. Construction was undertaken by Methodist Church Members in the British Virgin Islands. The new Church replaces the historic Sea Cow Bay Methodist Church. The historic Church Building continues to be used and is located adjacent to the newly constructed Church Building.
Café Amici
Architecture, electrical, and structural engineering design services were provided to restore Café Amici in St. Thomas USVI A.H. Riise Mall. The restaurant is located in a narrow passageway in the historic complex of completely restored Danish Warehouse Buildings. Critical to the project was retention of a walkway so that the “freegange” (alley) would remain open to pedestrian traffic.
The project is located in the heart of Charlotte Amalie’s Historic Architectural Control District and visited by hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Café Amici finishes and trim is representative of Virgin Islands Vernacular Architecture. The design features a replica Danish Brick Oven, a Mahogany Bar, Mass Masonry Rubble Walls, Wrought Iron Rails and a Curved Hip Standing Seam Roof with Exposed Ceiling Joist and Gingerbread Trim.
