Source Lab

Main Tower Building at University of Texas-Austin

Another project of late is the old 1948 Barton Springs bathhouse in Austin, also getting much needed love. I can’t wait to see this ICON restored! Stay tuned! Have any of you ever been to this bathouse? What do you remember?

I’ve been awfully quiet on here lately. Thats because I’ve been very busy doing analysis on the Main Tower building at the University of Texas at Austin. It’s a very large, complicated and Beautiful building! It’s soon to get the TLC it deserves. Stay tuned!
Any fun experiences here? Ive noticed many of the kids getting their pictures done around the building. It’s very sweet.

“Just cover the cornice with aluminum. Its too expensive to repair.”
Translation: “We want to do as little as possible for the most amount of money”.

The 1856 M.W. Shaw building at Tremomt and Market in Galveston. This buildings’ 1920’s remodel hides victorian brick and what apoears to be cast iron window surrounds in back. Many buildings in galveston are not what they appear to be. Later remodels make the building ‘appear’ as if they are from one period, but in fact, could be much much earlier. Proper research on interior and exterior can sometimes unearth fascinating facts about a building. I would love to see this building be restored!
I wonder if anyone out there has a photo of this building before the remodel, or hasvany other information on it?

What a pleasure to work on this building with the City of Dallas, Michael Van Enter and Phoenix1. The Tower building at Fair park has always been a favorite of mine. I first worked on it at the beginning of my career in the early 1990’s with Architexas/Dallas, where we discovered so many amazing decorative arts, both inside and out.
Through careful research and analysis as well as cross-referencing with historical photographs, the colors are now as vibrant as they were in 1936 on opening day. This is the second building done by our little team mentioned above. The first was the Hall of State next door to this one. Honestly, if you haven’t ever seen Fair Park in Dallas, you need to go. Its a delight to all the senses and so much better in person!

Ashton Villa- Galveston, Tx.
Photos like these may not give you the actual color of the exterior of a building, but it does let you know the values of the color. Check out the brackets at the top of the home- you can tell its a combination of light and dark colors. After a paint analysis, the colors were found to be a black and white.

Congratulations!!!!👏

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/XEYwTZrbcmv3tLLr/?mibextid=qtnXGe

Check out our project update in the Richardson Today Newspaper!!! “New City Hall Progress Update: Timeless Design Complements Community!” We are in LOVE with the how the design is coming along, and the renderings by Steinberg Hart.

Richardson Today Richardson Public Library

Bishops Palace- has anyone seen a table lamp like this one. It was located in the Gresham home on Broadway when they lived there. I think its pretty unusual. Anyone ever seen something similar?

Source
will be closed on Monday July 8th
in observance of the weather.

Corrosion can lead to a surface expelling its historic finish such as this gilded bronze clock topper. On first inspection, the bronze appeared to be a black patinated finish, but after gentle cleaning, gold gilt was evident everywhere!

Please dont forget to wax your historic marble. Marble can dry out just like any naturally porous material. It can start to look hazy and blanched. This marble was light pink before it’s treatment.

The difference between real gold gilt (candelabra and statuette) and bronze paint (mantle) is an entire universe.

Sun bleached doors can be an issue in Galvestons hot hot climate. A transparent wood finish requires yearly treatment and the right products. This door was severely bleached over the years even with constant maintenance. We added a colored tung oil over the exiting finish to give the doors the color vibrance they once had. With yearly cleaning and oiling this will last another ten years or so before it needs another intervention.

The National Park Service is accepting applications for 3 competitive grants, and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply! These theme-specific grants provide funding for building rehab and/or documentation and research. Applications are due in late August and early September. Find more information at the link in our bio.⁠
⁠

Early disability tub.

Napoleon’s bathroom with the recessed bath at his apartment in Villa Pisani at Stra, northern Italy.
In 1807 Napoleon bought the villa from the Pisani Family, now in poverty due to great losses in gambling.

Working at Open Gates in Galveston on the storm doors. This lovely building is a building designed by the firm McKim Mead and White- (those who know, know) These doors are prominently detailed in the plans! What a treat!

Thoughts on the paint job?

The neon looks amazing at the newly restored El Dorado Ballroom in Houston!
Photo by the talented Carol Bucek!

https://projectrowhouses.org/our-work/neighborhood-development/eldorado-ballroom/

Sometimes I feel the paint chips about to swallow me whole. Upshur County Courthouse!