The Associated General Contractors of America Austin Chapter recently honored two Vaughn projects with Outstanding Construction Awards. The AGC-Austin Outstanding Construction Awards recognize the top projects completed each year in the Austin/Central Texas region. The projects are judged on difficulty in construction, unusual construction techniques, final appearance and quality, and timeliness of completion.
The St. David's Healthcare Partnership, Bailey Square Renovation project won in the Health Care 1 ($0–10 million) category. Operated by St. David’s Healthcare, Bailey Square Surgery Center was the first free-standing multispecialty ambulatory surgery center in Texas. Founded in 1973, the center offered a safe, convenient, high-quality alternative to in-patient hospitalization. Since then, the concept of outpatient surgery has become more than accepted; it has become the preferred alternative to inpatient care. Bailey Square’s last renovation was completed in the early 2000’s. St. David’s Healthcare hired Vaughn to update the recovery rooms, nurses’ stations, restrooms, doctors lounge, a conference room, waiting rooms, reception, and public corridors. The facility received new flooring, paint, wall protection, doors, millwork, ceilings, plumbing fixtures, light fixtures, and a small layout change to the reception area. The end of the year is a busy time for surgery centers. The project schedule was of the utmost importance to finish the project the right way, the first time, and as fast as possible. The new modern, fresh, and up-to-date facility helps patients feel more at ease during their procedure and recovery.
The Compass Group USA, Den Dining Renovation project won in the Interior Finish-Out 2 ($500,000–2 million) category. The old Den Food Court contained an assortment of materials and finishes when we started. It had not been renovated in 17 years, and time and heavy use left much of this space tired and worn. The food court was in poor shape—curved soffits, chipped laminate, peeling vinyl, dated lighting, and a stained ceiling made the space feel neglected. Lurking beneath the slab and within the walls, unseen and unknown to the Owner, was deteriorated infrastructure. The local operations team challenged us to modernize this space to attract more students and make it a food destination. Omniplan designed the Den Food Court to be fresh, bright, and very different from its previous state. New lighting, new infrastructure, new flooring, and a reconfiguration of the food court area bring a new energy to the space. The biggest transformation was the envelope: two 24-foot-tall curtain wall bays were removed and rebuilt to accommodate a new automatic sliding entry on one side. On the other side, six gas-strut windows were installed on top of an indoor-outdoor dining ledge to create an instant connection with the courtyard outside. The resulting design will undoubtedly become a new favorite destination for the students and faculty at Texas State University.