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This week’s edition of Business Leaders takes a look at some new businesses in the area as well as some longstanding ones with new digs.
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Building Success with Greg Ryden 1B ¡ Oak Forest Veterinary Hospital moves into new home 1B Pinemont Pavilion closer to completion 3B
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Saturday, September 5, 2015 • Page 1B
Building Success: Oak Forest architect follows passion By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com Architect and Oak Forest resident Greg Ryden doesn’t have proximity to most of his projects but he can look out his office door and see one of the more recent – the redesign of Houston Fire Station 13 at 2215 W 43rd St. “We’re a couple of weeks away from being finished,� said Ryden, who also did the design work on Fire Station 68 at Gessner and Bissonnet. “I love to work on civic projects as they symbolize commitment to the area and neighborhood that they serve as well as positively contributing to the built-environment.� Ryden is a graduate of Texas A&M, both for his undergrad degree and his masters in architecture, and was previously employed at Brave Architecture. At Brave, Ryden worked on The Kipling School and the rebuild of Katherine Smith Elementary. He went out on his own in 2013 and worked out of his home before he moved into his new digs in the complex which also houses Hudson Chiropractic Center, the Dean McNeely Salon and the Book Scene in March 2015. Formerly occupied by a pediatrician, the space had been most recently occupied by a photographer and talent agent. “Every room was full of boxes,� said Ryden. “I couldn’t see anything.� Now the space is freshly painted with new carpet. It is modern and sleek with ergonomic chairs and screen prints of Storm Troopers on the wall. For now, Ryden Architecture is a one man operation, although Ryden utilizes a wide-array of consultants made up of mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers as well as civil and structural engineers as the need arises. Business is good though so he is on the hunt for a new architectural intern. Ryden’s relationship with the General Services Department’s ln-House Renovation Group, which manages the construction of various Houston Fire Department and Houston Police Department facilities, has also led to his involvement with doing some security upgrades at HPD’s Substation at North Montgomery. “We’re working on a security enclosure and taking the bullet proof glazing up to the ceiling,� said Ryden. He’s also working on two retail centers – one in Missouri City and one in the Woodlands, both of which are 20,000 square foot retail developments. He has a project too with Mac Haik Ford Houston at their 1-10 location. Ryden still does some residential work as well. He’s got a project on Ella Boulevard and some other houses outside the area.
Photos by Betsy Denson Greg Ryden moved into his new office space on West 43rd in March of this year. Aside from Fire Station 13 (bottom right), Ryden has projects with HPD and Mac Haik Ford. He still does some residential work too. Ryden said that Fire Station 13 is weeks away from completion.
See Ryden, P. 3B
Oak Forest Veterinary Hospital settles into new home By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com It may have taken a long time for the Oak Forest Veterinary Hospital on West 34th Street to find its way into a new home, but employees at the 50-year-old establishment are excited for what the future will bring for the clinic and its clientele. The organization just finished officially moving into the new building which occupies the lot directly behind the former building, which has now been bulldozed and will become a parking lot, Dr. Hallie Ray Moore said. The new building effectively triples the space of the previous facility, offering 6,850 square feet with new and expanded capabilities. “The old building had three exam rooms,� Moore said. “This one has five. We also doubled our surgery capabilities and offer a separate isolation ward with its own ventila-
Photo by Jonathan Garris Oak Forest Veterinary Hospital’s new facility features updated amenities and treatment rooms as well as an inviting new reception area.
tion system.� Another big feature is a new kids playroom, siutated next to the main reception area at the front of the building. The room not only allows youngsters to enjoy a play area and movies, but also provides viewing windows for cats who have been
temporarily boarded at the facility. “The kids playroom has been a big hit but unfortunately some of the kids end up not wanting to leave,� Moore said with a laugh. Spaces for dog boarding and isolation wards will also have
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small areas for pooches to enjoy some outdoor time and even a small patch of grass, Moore said. The group first broke ground on the new facility last October, but not before finish-
on all New Oak Forest Listings (Certain restrictions apply.)
See Hospital, P. 3B
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