RDLR Story: Houston Food Bank

Houston Food Bank

Location: Houston, Tx

Size: 308,000 sq ft.

Who We Are

Founded in 1982, Rey de la Reza Architects, Inc. (RDLR) is recognized throughout Texas as a community-driven architectural firm providing design excellence and outstanding project management services in the Houston area.

With a 40-year history, the firm has been involved in the design of a variety of transit, commercial, educational, urban design, residential, and renovation projects and continues to provide exceptional service to public entities including: City of Houston, Fort Bend County, Houston Airport System, METRO, HCTRA, The Harris Center, numerous ISD’s, GSA, USPS and TxDOT. Our firm is certified MWBE and Texas HUB.

40+ Awards

AIA Houston Firm of the Year

Texas Society of Architects Firm Award

Houston Food Bank: Built with a Mission.

Food Banks occupy a unique intersection— part distribution center, part office space, volunteer center and community center. Food Banks must be efficient, both in their distribution systems and with their structures; they must be responsible, effective stewards of the gifts and resources they are given; and lastly, Food Banks must be human, must invite and support volunteer workers and affirm the dignity of everyone who comes in need. While food banks are not traditionally thought of as difficult structures to design, it is easy to get lost in the mechanical simplicity of a distribution center and lose sight of the ultimate mission. Food Banks are not just non-profit food warehouses, they are beacons of hope throughout the community and improve quality of life for all.

Urban Land Institute Development of Distinction Award, 2013

AIA Public Architecture Social Impact Merit Award, 2013

AIA Houston Design Excellence Award, 2012

Texas Society of Architects Design Excellence Award, 2012

Contract Magazine Inspiration Award, 2012

Interior glazing was added throughout the building to emphasize teamwork and to showcase the HFB’s purpose. Reinforcing the notion of transparency, translucent panels clad recycled steel structure to form room dividers, signage supports and workstations. Color, super graphics, and music throughout volunteer areas are tools to enliven environments, energize the spirit and create a sense of HOPE.

In keeping with the HFB’s philosophy of transparency, positive teamwork and good stewardship, designers developed a unifying theme of the project— “Creating HOPE”. Through teamwork, efficiency and good stewardship HOPE is created. Matching HFB’s logo, a cheerful patchwork green façade beckons the community. Multi-purpose screens function as solar shades, equipment surrounds and signage frames. A food generating garden, with benches fabricated from beams salvaged on site, welcomes visitors.

The original warehouse structure is exposed throughout the interiors, reflecting the HFB’s value of transparency and honesty. Original concrete floors are lightly polished to clean but still expose wear. Industrial light fixtures create patterns of light against the exposed steel structure wherever possible in the building. Where building additions have occurred, the original exterior concrete panels are uncovered to provide visual texture and reference the building’s history.

The Houston Food Bank facility is two separate things by nature: A raw and rough industrial space designed for work, distribution, and doing, and a beacon of hope. Occupied by an assembly of people with humanitarian efforts at the core, the facility and occupants fulfill the mission of hope and make a difference every day.

Through exposed structure and creative use of materials, food bank spaces are efficient, playful, and reinforce the overall mission.

Firm Leadership

RDLR Architects firm Principals: Jennifer DaRos, LEED AP, Howard Merrill, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Lorie Westrick, AIA, LEED AP and Daniel Ortiz, AIA, LEED AP

Firm Awards

Throughout its existence, Architects has received numerous awards from our peers as well as our user groups and clients. The list that follows reflects a portion of the many accomplishments of this firm.

2022 Award of Merit from ENR Texas & Louisiana

UH Graduate College of Social Work

2021 ICE Award, Associated Builders and Contractors of Greater Houston (ABC) Excellence in Construction Awards (EIC)

UH Graduate College of Social Work

2021 ULI Development of Distinction Award

SERJobs for Progress

2020 AIA Houston Design Award

HPD Southwest Substation

2020 TPWA Project of the Year Award

Fort Bend County Public Transportation Facility

2017 ULI Development of Distiction Award Finalist

Carnegie Vanguard High School

2014 The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)

Silver Award TransportationWellborn Road Grade Separations project.

2014 New Construction Community Improvement Award

Houston Museum District Business Alliance

Carnegie Vanguard High School

2013 AIA Colorado Award of Citation

HPD South Gessner Police Station

2013 AIA Denver Award of Merit

HPD South Gessner Police Station

2013 K-12 Best Project Award ENR TX

Carnegie Vanguard High School

2013 Urban Land Institute Development of Distinction Award

Houston Food Bank

2013 AIA Public Architecture Social Impact Merit Award

Houston Food Bank

2012 Urban Land Institute Distinguished Development

Houston Food Bank

2012 Texas Society of Architects Design Award

Houston Food Bank

2012 Contract Inspiration Award

Houston Food Bank

2012 AIA Houston Design Award

Houston Food Bank

2011 Texas Society of Architects Design Award

Sam Houston Tollway NE Main Plaza

2009 Texas Construction/McGraw Hill Best of 2009 Awards

Excellence Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

2009 Greater Houston Preservation Alliance Good Award-Reagan High School

2008 U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator’s Award for Excellence

2005 Texas Society of Architects FIRM AWARD

2005 AIA Houston FIRM OF THE YEAR

2004 AIA Houston Design Award - Architectural Merit METRO Texas Medical Center Transit Facility

2003 Texas Downtown Association - 2003 Awards WINNERS Public Improvement Big City - Cotswold Project Phase I, Houston

2003 Texas Construction/ Mc Graw Hill Best of 2003 Infrastructure George Bush Intercontinental Airport Terminal A/B Parking Garage

2003 Texas Construction/ McGraw Hill Best of 2003Awards of Excellence US 59 Houston Gateway

2003 National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA) Prize Bridge Award - US 59 Houston Gateway

2002 Golden Trowel Awards - Honor In Stone Sheltering Arms Senior Services Center

2001 American Consulting Engineers Council Engineering Excellence Award - Cotswold

2000 Community Award - Museum District Business Alliance - Bridges on US59

2000 AIA Houston Design Award - Architecture Honor Design Award - Cotswold

1999 American Planning Association

Highest Honor Award - Cotswold

1999 American Planning Association - Highest Honor AwardUniversity of Houston Campus Development Plan

1999 American Planning Association - Highest Honor AwardGreen Ribbon Project

1997 NAHRO Award of Excellence - Cuney Homes

1997 NAHRO Award of Excellence - TSU/HISD Lab School

1995 Hall of Fame - University of Houston Architecture Alumni

Outstanding Contributions to Architecture