News

"Studios are awarded LEED Silver" - San Antonio Express-News, May 15, 2008

'SoFlo Studios is the first Silver LEED project in San Antonio, the firms said." Click to see article

"SoFlo building owners leading rehab project down green path" - San Antonio Business Journal, April 11, 2008

Brown Field Ventures LLC redeveloping downtown building into "industrial chic" 48,000 square foot, green office and residential space. Click to see article

"From a warehouse to a home" - San Antonio Express-News, March 21, 2008

"Building that once housed steel to become latest lofts on S. Flores." Click to see article

The Shops at La Cantera Expands

Phase II to offer new retail, restaurants and office development. Read more at: "The Shops at La Cantera to add office to the mix" - San Antonio Business Journal, Week of March 21-27, 2008, and "The Shops to multiply - Phase two of the center at La Cantera will feature 40 stores - many new to S.A." - San Antonio Express-News, March 21, 2008. Click here to see both articles

"SoFlo - New Neighborhood in the Heart of Old San Antonio"

The March 2008 issue of City Pages Magazine features a cover story on the development and potential of the South Flores Street Neighborhood as well as a fashion spread shot on location in and around Alamo Architects office, showcasing the award-winning redeveloped and "green" office campus. Click to see article

City of McAllen Celebrates Opening of New Downtown Parking Garage

On January 21, 2008, the City of McAllen held the official grand opening of the new downtown parking garage with city and business leaders gathering on the top floor of the five-story facility, which accommodates 438 cars and incorporates 13,800 sf of ground floor retail and office space. Alamo Architects' design builds upon the fabric of downtown McAllen and is the first component of the "Heart of the City" project.

The Shops at La Cantera Earns International Design & Development Award

The Shops at La Cantera received the coveted Design Award, the highest in its category - Innovative Design & Development of a New Project (retail projects over 500,000 of total retail space) from the 31st International Design and Development Awards ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) 2007 competition. The Shops at La Cantera is the only shopping venue in the United States to earn top honor in this category. Global recognition of outstanding projects is the basis of these awards which set the standard for the development of retail projects around the world.

Alamo Architects receives AIA San Antonio Recognition

San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger selected Alamo Architects' Maury Maverick, Jr. Branch Public Library and Fire Station No. 49 for the 2007 Mayor's Choice Award, describing the buildings as "inviting" and "light-hearted". The "SoFlo Office Studios" of Alamo Architects and OCO Architects were also recognized at the 2007 San Antonio AIA Design Awards Banquet with a "Commendation for Sustainability" and "Citation Award". Read more, "Architectural Gems Applauded", San Antonio Express-News, October 24, 2007. click to see article

Discover Architecture Downtown

San Antonio Magazine – “Discover Architecture Downtown,” May 2007 click to see article

Alamo Architects has moved to a new location.

The growing firm now occupies a designated local landmark, a former industrial building situated just south of downtown San Antonio on South Flores Street. Alamo Architects joins other state-of-the-art professional and residential developments that have risen out of four nearby warehouses between South Alamo and Cevallos. To learn more about our new offices click here. To read about the revitalization potential of the area, see “Urban Connections” in the San Antonio Business Journal, and “South Flores Street: The ideal lifestyle” and "SoFlo, so reinvented" in the San Antonio Express-News.

Alamo Architects Names New Associate Principals and Associate

Ariel Chavela and Salvador Garcia, Jr. have been promoted to Associate Principal and Jim Bailey to Associate. Ariel joined Alamo Architects in 1999 and has architecture and engineering degrees from UT Austin. Sal Garcia is a Registered Architect who joined Alamo Architects in 2002 and has served as project manager on several significant developments. Jim Bailey joined Alamo Architects in 2000 and has extensive experience with single and multi-family housing design, urban planning, and mixed-use development.

New SAISD School Groundbreaking Ceremony

On September 21, 2006, Alamo Architects was proud to join SAISD School Board Members, Superintendent Robert J. Duron and parents and students at the official groundbreaking ceremony of the Southeast Side School, the district's first newly established school in four decades.

The new pre-kindergarten through eighth grade academy will serve the educational needs of a growing student population in the Southeast sector of the school district. The 140,000 square foot academy, which is scheduled to open in Spring 2008, will sit on a 19.5-acre site. The building’s design is inspired by nearby Missions San Juan and Espada. Click here for more information about the design of the new SAISD Southeast Side School.

The Shops at La Cantera Wins Two SADI Awards from Retail Traffic Magazine

The Shops at La Cantera was awarded two SADI Awards from Retail Traffic Magazine for successful design that achieves business objectives ‘while stirring the imagination.’ The Shops at La Cantera was the winner in the 2006 Superior Achievement in Design & Imaging (SADI) Award in the category of best “New Open-Air Center.” The project was also awarded the “Grand SADI” for best overall entry in the 2006 competition. The annual Retail Traffic SADI Awards program recognizes outstanding achievement in retail design. The honor is bestowed to those who have successfully balanced form and function to create retail environments that fulfill the needs of the consumer while crafting unique and memorable. Winners are showcased in the May 2006 issue of Retail Traffic Magazine.

Maury Maverick, Jr. Branch Library/Fire Station 49

“Christine Poulin reads three to five books to her 5-year old daughter, Candice, each night before bedtime. Never before has a neighborhood library been so important, she said…Beside the library is a new two-bay fire station with a fire truck and basic life support response. The fire department has served the area from that location since 2001 from a temporary facility, but this is a larger and nicer home, [District 7 Council Aide Becky] Bromley said.”

Read more: “S.A.’s newest branch libraries are tributes to thoughtful design” San Antonio Express-News and “Library opening excites residents” San Antonio Express-News.

The Shops at La Cantera Opens, Phase II is under construction.

Through innovative planning, forward-looking retail leasing, and integrity of architectural design and materials, The Shops at La Cantera transcends the typical. From its inception to the dramatic final product unveiled on September 16, 2005, The Shops at La Cantera blends the pedestrian-friendly plan of a regional mall with the ease of use of a lifestyle center. Phase II of The Shops at La Cantera is now under construction.

The Alamo Architects design is an expression of their philosophy of creating site-specific design. There are elements of Hill Country architecture as well as San Antonio heritage, but in a form supportive of the upscale nature of the merchants. The Alamo Architects team was involved in every detail – from developing the overall concept, all the way to observing the handcrafting of the copper lanterns. Once again, Alamo Architects has created a unique environment that will act as a prototype for other developments.

Read what people are saying about The Shops at La Cantera in Texas Architect, “Open-Air Market”, the San Antonio Express-News, “Building in Style – La Cantera displays creative design” and San Antonio Magazine, “The Shops at La Cantera: A breath of fresh air in retail design.”