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GS&C
ARCHITECTURE-INTERIOR DESIGN Graeber, Simmons and Cowan prides itself on its broad client base, designing everything from advanced technology to residential living, and its home-grown Texas roots.
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architecture | south
A Tradition Of Diversity Entering its third generation of ownership, GS&C stands by the principles of the founding partners by remaining active in a diverse assortment of architecture projects. by Jane Caffrey
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south | architecture
During autumn of 2009, Graeber, Simmons & Cowan Architecture-Interior Design retired its last founding partner and moved into its third generation of ownership. A mature company with a rich history of experience, the firm stands by the principles of its founding fathers with a deep commitment to a wide assortment of projects. “What sets us apart is our diversity,” Tom Cornelius, CEO and Principal at GS&C Architecture-Interior Design, said. ‘We are somewhat of a traditional firm, and we probably have the broadest market of any of the homegrown firms in Austin. Our project types are across the board.” Serving the industries of advanced technology, corporate, finance, education,
Industrial buildings and buildings that are focused on technology is a specialty, and it is one of ours. We will be focusing on companies and their building needs that are focused on renewable energy.” health care, and living spaces, GS&C has a client list that numbers over 500. Yet proving a commitment to rock-solid client relationships as well as diversity, the core values of the founders, GS&C also continues to provide design services to its original three clients—The University of Texas at Austin, St. David’s Community Hospital, and Texas State University-San Marcos. GS&C was established in Austin, Texas during the fall of 1978 by David Graeber, Al Simmons, and Tommy Cowan. Shortly following its foundation, the company hired R. Max Brooks, an old friend and mentor of the founders whose connections in Austin and expertise in architecture stretched back to 1935. “It’s as if the firm has a continuous history, due to the lineage of previous firms and previous ownership,” Cornelius said. “It’s style is more that a of a firm that was formed in 1935 really. We do track our history back to Austin, Texas in the mid 1930s, when Austin was still a small college town.” As Austin grew over the years, so did 1. AMD Lonestar Campus Bldg. 500, Austin Texas. Rain Catcher. Photo by Greg Hursley. 2. AMD Lonestar Campus Bldg. 400. Austin, Texas. Sunshades and Native Vegetation. Photo by Greg Hursley.
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4 Architecture Leaders Today
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ACUITY As GS&C’s technology partner for the AMD, Texas A&M, and Texas School for the Blind projects, Acuity ensures success through solid planning, coordinating, and communicating as a team. This results in meticulous accuracy and cost savings for design and integration of technology systems. Acuity is an IT consulting firm specializing in low–voltage systems for Fortune 500 companies, leading technology firms, world–class universities and medical centers. They have the experience and expertise to provide the blueprints for technology investment decisions and to provide strategic vision while maximizing business value throughout each stage of a project from start to finish. When Acuity’s services are procured in the beginning stage of any project and are treated as a rudiment (or cornerstone) throughout the development process, the resulted savings and increased efficiencies, both short and long–term, are simply unquantifiable.
south | architecture GS&C. New partners joined the firm, bringing diverse skills, expertise, and community-wide thinking. Cornelius became involved with GS&C in 1980, while obtaining a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Texas. During the 1990s, when Austin was a hub for microelectronics, Cornelius concentrated much of his energy on the design and management of advanced technology projects. While GS&C participated heavily in that sector, the market eroded near the turn of the century, and the firm replaced these projects with others in higher education, primary education, commercial, health care, and additional science and technology work. “We do all of that work today,” Cornelius said. “There has never been a time in our history when we’ve focused too much on one specific market and forsaken our roots of a really diverse practice.” Now under the visionary leadership of principals Tom Cornelius, Beth Guillot, Joe LaRocca, Paul Meyer, and Larry Moseley, 60 talented architects and interior designers bring a diverse range of talent to the firm. Employees typically offer expertise in specialized areas such as CAD management, project web site management, code reviews, sustainable design, and other interests. GS&C maintains a balance of seasoned staff with emerging professionals, and offers an intensive summer internship program for college students. “We are a dynamic company that gives opportunities,” Ginny Chilton, an Architect at GS&C, said. “We have a lot of young people and innovative thinkers. Everyone is in charge of providing excellent customer service.” Project diversity is beneficial to employees at GS&C as well, as they are encouraged to move between project types and be active in community areas of their choice. In recent years, Austin has seen a reemergence of the science and technology industries as the city strives to become a center of excellence in sustainability through solar power and wind generation. Tightly tied to Austin’s interests, GS&C is making a parallel effort for sustainability. “We’re following the city’s lead, which is making a very strong national push to be a city of excellence in renewable energy,” Cornelius said. “Industrial buildings and buildings that are focused on technology is a specialty, and it is one of ours. We will be focusing on companies and 6 Architecture Leaders Today
their building needs that are focused on renewable energy.” GS&C is qualified in services from both the Austin Green Building Program and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Program, with several fulltime LEED Accredited Professionals on staff that fully incorporate sustainable, energy efficient designs. The company’s project lists boasts a high number of green structures, including the AISD Perez Elementary School, which received a 2-Star Rating from the Austin Energy Green Building Program, the TurnerRoberts Recreation Center, a LEED Silver registered certification project, and the AMD 875,000 sq. ft. Lonestar Campus, a LEED Gold registered certification project. One sustainable project that Cornelius takes particular pride in is a new 1 million sq. ft. corporate campus for technology company, Advanced Micro Devices, a longstanding client of GS&C. In 2004, when AMD had acquired a number of companies and was spread out in 14 different properties across Austin, the corporation turned to GS&C to build a corporate campus that would consolidate the design and administration staff. “It was a consolidation project, so we had the opportunity to reset their space standards,” Cornelius said. “We had the great opportunity to program and work with AMD interactively to develop literally what their work environment was going to be.” With the new floor plan, GS&C created a space that excluded offices and instead offered a flexible layout and open spaces, complemented by a range of private areas for conferences and meetings. “It was a new approach for them, and assisting the company through that was pretty invigorating,” Cornelius said. The other unique aspect of the AMD project was that the campus was close to critical environmental features, and both companies decided early in the process to create a LEED project. Constructing 1 million square feet of office and garage space on a mere 59 acres, GS&C effected minimal impact on the site and achieved LEED Gold certification for the project. “At the end of the day, we could stand back and realize that we had created a lot of new construction with minimal clearing and impact on that site,” Cornelius said. Perhaps the crowning feature of the AMD Corporate Campus is an innovative water cistern that holds approximately 1.5 million gallons of water—currently the nation’s largest, non-agriculture
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architecture | south
AMD Lonestar Campus lobby Bldg. 100, Austin Texas. Photo by Benedict Kim.
water collection system. The spectacularly large water reclamation system draws water from every sq. in. of rooftop in the buildings and garages, which drains into a central system. The collected water is utilized in many ways. Four hundred thousand gallons are allocated for irrigation of the natural landscape. Some is employed in the cooling towers and reduces the campus’ water usage by 12 percent annually. The system is also crucial for collecting storm water runoff. In a part of the world where rocky soils don’t readily accept hard rainfall, the system prevents downstream runoff and checks erosion. “The water is being used in circles,” Cornelius said. “We’re really getting triple duty out of or rainwater system, through irrigation, offsetting the cooling tower water, and making a profound impact
on storm water control. We hope it will ultimately become a model approach on how to handle rainwater reclamation.” While already breaking ground in the sustainable building industry, GS&C anticipates becoming further involved in green building and the solar industry in upcoming years. The company is seeing increased science and technology projects as this market returns to Austin with the green movement. Yet never to be trapped within one specialization, GS&C plans to undertake a variety of projects and maintain expertise in every area. “I see us creating specialties within our diversity,” Cornelius said. “Buildings are becoming more specialized every day, so that is the direction we’re moving, although we will continue to work on diverse structures. We will make sure that
our clients can see that we take a studio approach to various project types.” Committed to the belief that each building should be a unique reflection of the people who interact within it, GS&C continues with innovative custom projects that enhance the Austin community. “We are extremely proud of our founding principles and to still be active in the community today. We’re at a good stage of our corporate life. It’s a healthy model, and we’re proud of our financial health and the direction that we’re going,” Cornelius said. With a long tradition of expertise, excellence, and multiplicity, GS&C is fully equipped to succeed as a leader in the perpetually evolving and diversifying architecture industry. ALT Summer 2010 7
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