RGA Design Group

Casabella on Westshore, Tampa, Florida (Case History)

wprgad — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:43:12 +0000

Casa Bella on Westshore

Summary: Casa Bella exhibits a compatibility with its natural surroundings and is in harmony with the adjacent waterfront and local residential district. This private, Mediterranean-style apartment complex is set on South Westshore Boulevard along Tampa Bay. The design intent was to create unity between the South Tampa urban community and the local natural environment.

Location: Tampa, FL

Budget: $65,000,000 (Over budget due to Owner requested changes

Completion Date: 09.01.06

Client: Florida Capital / Zaremba Development Florida

Contact: Michelle Lee, 813.253.0551

Team Members

William Henry, Principal Architect
Josh Buono, Project Manager

Services Provided: Full Architectural Services including Construction Administration

Casa Bella on Westshore

Project Description

Casa Bella exhibits a compatibility with its natural surroundings and is in harmony with the adjacent waterfront and local residential district. This private, Mediterranean-style apartment complex is set on South Westshore Boulevard along Tampa Bay. The design intent was to create unity between the South Tampa urban community and the local natural environment. The development accomplishes this interaction between the natural and manmade worlds through luscious landscaping, dense construction, pools with spectacular views and numerous environmentally friendly design strategies. The colors incorporated in the project were derived from the scenic waterfront views and bright colors typical for the Gulf Coast of Florida. The colors and textures used promote the vision of sunshine and freshness to this community. Casa Bella adds to the surrounding aesthetics without being overly aggressive to the visual continuity of the residential typology of the area.

Project Issues

Casa Bella on Westshore

Casa Bella was designed so that residents’ needs are well-served. Originally the design was for a condo project. Immediately before permitting this 250-unit development, per the owner’s request, changed to all apartments. The design consists of four different buildings, many with exterior views that also include a selection of 16 different unit types. Some of the units even include lofts on the fourth and fifth levels. Amenities on site include an expansive clubhouse containing a fitness area with sauna, meeting room with fireplace, library, and media room. Other amenities include a beach style and infinity edge pools for the residents’ leisure. The design team for Casa Bella recognized the need for rentals in the Tampa area.

Centro Place, Tampa, Florida (Case History)

wprgad — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:37:50 +0000

Centro Place

Summary: The Centro Place Apartment Homes involved a $16.1 million housing development created by the City of Tampa, the Bank of America CDC, and the Home Association, Inc. They worked together in partnership to develop a new 160‐unit senior living apartment community (103 units for those at 60% or less and 26 units for those at 35% or less of median income).

Location: Tampa, FL

Budget: $16,100,000.00

Completion Date: September 2006

Client: Banc of America-Community Development Division

Contact: Elon Metoyer, Former Senior VP

Team Members: William Henry, Principal Architect

Relevance

Included renovation of historic hospital building to serve as a clubhouse
Construction of new senior living affordable housing units

Centro Place

Project Description

The Centro Place Apartment Homes involved a $16.1 million housing development created by the City of Tampa, the Bank of America CDC, and the Home Association, Inc. They worked together in partnership to develop a new 160‐unit senior living apartment community (103 units for those at 60% or less and 26 units for those at 35% or less of median income). Centro Place is located in the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Authority/EC Area, and is next door to an assisted living facility for the elderly (HOME Association), that also continues to provide support services to the elderly tenants previously served. Many of the elderly have lived in East Tampa their entire lives, thereby allowing them to remain living in the same community with assisted living services. The development site includes the main building of the historic Asturiano Hospital, which now serves as the community facility for social activities.

Centro Place

Support came from HUD HOME funds ($600,000 for 8 units = average of $75,000/unit) and State SHIP funds ($900,000 for 30 units = average of $30,000/unit), and other public and private funds and Low Income Housing Tax Credits ($9.6 million).

Awards

2006 Annual Community Design Awards
Best Residential Project Best Affordable Housing, Best Urban Infill for Re-Use
2005 Tampa Bay Business Journal
Best Rehabilitation/Re-Use
2005 NAIOP Awards
Outstanding Rehabilitation

Pepin Academy, Tampa, Florida (Case History)

wprgad — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:23:43 +0000

Pepin Academy

Summary: This project consists of (2) single-story (6) classroom buildings produced under a design-build delivery system. The buildings consist of a ‘pre-engineered’ metal building system with masonry walls below. Each building shell is approximately 6,000SF. One of the buildings has been left open to be an open air-nasium for covered outdoor activities. The other building has five classrooms and an administrative office incorporated into it.

Location: Tampa, FL

Budget: $800,000.00

Completion Date: 2003

Client: Pepin Academy Charter Schools

Contact: Christa Scolaro-Founder, 813.236.1755

Services Provided: Full Architectural Services, Design/Build Services

Team Members

William Henry, Principal Architect
Erica Byda, Project Manager/Designer

Pepin Academy

Project Description

This project consists of (2) single-story (6) classroom buildings produced under a design-build delivery system. The buildings consist of a ‘pre-engineered’ metal building system with masonry walls below. Each building shell is approximately 6,000SF. One of the buildings has been left open to be an open air-nasium for covered outdoor activities. The other building has five classrooms and an administrative office incorporated into it. This type of building system provides maximum future flexibility of use. The project was delivered on time and on budget. The budget was $800,000. The students and faculty are very satisfied with the classroom arrangement and outdoor public space.

Project Challenges

Pepin Academy

The project was commissioned in February of 2003 with a required opening date just (6) months later. RGA working with Bandes Construction of Palm Harbor incorporated a metal pre-engineered frame building approach to expedite design and construction. The classrooms were infilled with masonry. SWFWMD (water management district) approval was expedited by removing paving and other impervious surfaces.

Pepin Academy Charter Schools – Phase 1, Tampa, Florida (Case History)

wprgad — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:17:33 +0000

Pepin Academy Charter Schools

Summary: This project involves the programming and design of the first high school for students with learning disabilities in the State of Florida. This is a Hillsborough County School Board Charter School. Reliable is currently involved in the development and design of classrooms and computerized teaching aids specifically for students with learning disabilities. As part of the leadership core to develop this unique facility, the following companies and representatives are currently involved: Pepin Distribution (Art Pepin), Outback Steakhouse (Chris Sullivan), and Joe Chillura, former County Commissioner.

Location: Tampa, FL

Budget: Estimated Budget: $1,000,000.00

Final Budget: $1,000,000.00

Completion Date: 2001

Client: Pepin Academy Charter Schools

Contact: Crisha Scolaro-Founder, 813.236.1755

Services Provided: Full Architectural Services

Team Members

Pepin Academy Charter Schools

William Henry Principal Architect
Erica Byda Project Manager/Designer

Project Description

This project involves the programming and design of the first high school for students with learning disabilities in the State of Florida. This is a Hillsborough County School Board Charter School. Reliable is currently involved in the development and design of classrooms and computerized teaching aids specifically for students with learning disabilities. As part of the leadership core to develop this unique facility, the following companies and representatives are currently involved: Pepin Distribution (Art Pepin), Outback Steakhouse (Chris Sullivan), and Joe Chillura, former County Commissioner. Coinciding with the physical plan, teaching aids, both technological and programmatic, are being developed to address the learning needs of challenged students. These programs and techniques may become prototypical for institutions that will follow nationwide. The retrofit involves extensive environmental mitigation and gutting of the existing interiors. Code compliance, fire protection ratings, and means of egress for large assembly areas have been addressed.

Pepin Academy Charter Schools

This project was completed start to finish including all design work and construction in 125 days. This ambitious undertaking required the complete integration of the project team members including Ron Morrick of Morrick Construction as Owner’s representative; Rock Angel of Angel Construction and all members of the Reliable Group team. The project required many hours of overtime to reach the goal of an ambitious move in by August 7, 2001. It’s our pleasure to announce that this objective was obtained.

Margate Town Center Master Plan, Margate, Florida (Case History)

wprgad — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:13:04 +0000

Project Description: A team comprised of DeBartolo Development and RGA have designed a comprehensive plan for the CRA just north of downtown Ft. Lauderdale. This plan will become the blueprint for future growth along Hwy. 441 aka State Road 7.

Margate Trio Perspective

This key development is located within a 2 mile radius of the new Cypress Creek Casino expansion to the north which is a direct result of the State of Florida and the Seminole Indian impact.

The redevelopment of the center will include housing for new workers as well as convenience retail. This development may include a 700 stall city-owned parking structure and intermodal transit facility.

Location: Margate, FL

Budget: $35 million (first phase)

Completion Date: December 2012

Client: Margate, Florida, Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)

Contact: David McLean, 954.935.5346

Team Members

RGA, Architecture / Urban Planning
DeBartolo Development, Multi-Family Residential/Retail Development

Services Provided: Full Architectural Services including Construction Administration

Project Issues

In 2009 RGA was approached by the Mayor of Margate to consider playing a role in the City’s redevelopment efforts. Mayor Pam Donovan and RGA’s Matt Henry discussed this involvement at the Florida International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Annual Meeting. RGA conducted several workshops with the Margate City Council acting as the ‘CRA’. The late Jack Tobin, former Margate City Mayor and State Representative represented RGA. After several approaches were discussed it was decided that the project should proceed with an approved private developer with the financial wherewithal and comparable experience to take on redevelopment that could encompass over 30 acres and represent over $200 million in investment. At that point RGA contacted DeBartolo Development, also based in Tampa, to assume the lead development role. Matt Henry of RGA has hung is Florida Real Estate License with Fortis since 2008. Fortis is affiliated with DeBartolo Development via the ownership interest of Ed Kobel, CEO of DeBartolo Development.

The proposed development team also includes Carnahan Proctor of Margate, civil engineers; Greystar Management Company of South Florida and Bandes Construction of Pinellas County.

The DeBartolo/RGA team was unanimously approved as the top raked firm to undertake a mutually approved development program. Currently the team is preparing the concept master plan and schematic designs for the first phse of development on the City Center North Parcel.

Magnolia Gardens, Brooksville, Florida (Case History)

wprgad — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:08:53 +0000

Magnolia 1

Location: Brooksville, FL

Budget: Estimated $8,100,000.00

Final Budget: TBD

Completion Date: Under Construction Anticipated Dec. 2011

Client: Hernando County Housing Authority/NRP Group

Contact: Tim Morgan, 216.475.8900

Team Members

Magnolia 2

William Henry, Principal Architect
David Click, Project Manager

Services Provided: Full Architectural Services

Project Description

Magnolia Gardens is a (60) unit elderly housing facility located in Brooksville, Florida. The goal of the Hernando County Housing Authority was to provide a high standard of living for its 55+ residents while incorporating an old-south charm to the building’s aesthetics. The development is comprised of (30) one bedroom units and (30) two bedroom units with amenities such as a community center/clubhouse, exercise room, computer room, library, laundry on every floor, outdoor picnic area and a shuffleboard. Magnolia Gardens provides a modern living lifestyle to its residents while incorporating a timeless architecture into the Brooksville Community.

Magnolia 3

Project Issues

Magnolia Gardens is funded by State tax dollars which is a process that requires an extensive amount of time and effort prior to any certainty that the project will ultimately move forward. RGA worked closely with the Developer and the Hernando County Housing Authority to design and create a dynamic submittal package that was deemed a worthy project and was awarded state dollars. Budgetary restraints required that the (60) units be contained in one building, while remaining only (3) stories tall. This forced the façade of the structure to become quite lengthy at approximately (365) feet. To avoid the length of the structure appearing like an army barracks we placed the amenities at the center axis of the building; pulling the residential units apart to appear as two separate structures. An outdoor patio area, or front porch, was placed above the amenities and served as a link between the residential areas. This ‘front porch’ provided a crucial connection to the overall theme of Brooksville whose city slogan is Brooksville: Front Porch Charm at Its Best. Magnolia Gardens captures all of the great traits that make Hernando County such a charming county.

Hernando, Brooksville Florida (Case History)

wprgad — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:29:41 +0000

Hernando part 1 Quarry Rendering

Location: Brooksville, Florida

Budget: $1.2 million

Completion Date: May 2011

Client: Partners Enrichment Center, Brooksville, Florida

Contact: Debbie Walker-Druzbick, 352.597.6331

Services Provided: Full Architecture Services including Construction Management, Design/Build

Team Members

William Henry, Principal Architect
David Click, Project manager
Barry Morris, Job Captain

Project Description

Hernando Part 1 PEC

The Brooksville Quarry/Partners Enrichment Center doubles as a hurricane shelter and community center. A monolithic concrete structure that previously was used as a train depot many years ago was incorporated to serve as the building ‘shell’. The program involved renovating it into a historical public use hurricane shelter. RGA was retained to serve as both architect and construction manager. The main structural elements and concrete work were cleaned and repaired as needed. They were left exposed to highlight the original design and character of the original building. The program includes a museum, golf pro-shop, restaurant, classrooms, offices, and other assembly spaces.

Project Issues Resolved

When RGA was brought aboard to investigate and verify the adaptability of the existing structure to accommodate the new program the results showed no significant damage to the existing structure, thus allowing the reuse of these elements. An underlying issue that emerged from the initial studies to both preserve the existing structure and incorporate a two story interior build-out. The program challenge was increased by the requirement to preserve the original character of the monolithic concrete form.

Hernando Part 1

The solution involved the design of floor plenum with minimal depth. Various low profile and compact systems were used to reduce inefficiencies and wasted space. All of the previously mentioned items contributed in allowing a very intense program into a limited footprint and space.

Osborne Landings, Margate Florida (Case History)

wprgad — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 20:19:46 +0000

Osborne Landings - Mold Mediation

Location: Margate, Florida

Budget: $1 million m.o.l.

Completion Date: March 2011

Client: Tampa Housing Authority

Contact: Frazier Carraway Esq. (Saxon Gilmore P.A.)

Team Members: RGA, Architecture

Services Provided: Consultation, Mold Mediation, Reconstruction and Expert Witness

Project Description

Osborne Landings - Mold Mediation

In early 2010, William Henry Ph.D. was asked to assess a project owned and operated by the Tampa Housing Authority for the cause and potential cure for the presence of toxic mold in a 46 dwelling unit, multi-family public housing project known as Osborne Landings. Dr. Henry’s first investigative research involved a previous remediation of this complex, it included over $2 million in demolition and reconstruction, only to result in further mold spore activity inside the units. It was quickly determined that the previous remediation had only addressed potential outside to inside water penetration, such as window replacement, elasto-meric paint application, and interior finish removal. RGA determined that the latest occurrence of spore activity was the result of an incomplete insulation application in the wall cavity during the previous remediation. Although Tampa Bay is in a subtropical zone, intermittent freezes cause the dew point to often be near the inside surfaces of the interior walls if the insulating material is not present, When the cool outside air meets the warm humid interior conditions, often caused by human activity of larger families, such as frequent showers, washer/dryer, and dishwashing activity, mold can and does often form on the interior surfaces.

RGA assessed the cause and prescribed the cure which involved demolition, installing proper insulation, and reconstructing the improvements. RGA also estimated the probable costs of construction. The project required close coordination with the environmental consultant to remediate and put the units back on line as part of a ‘rapid response’.

Reserve II, St. Petersburg, Florida (Case History)

wprgad — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 20:23:53 +0000

Reserve II

Location: St. Petersburg, Florida

Budget: $35 million (Pending Financing)

Completion Date: (Pending Financing)

Client: Echelon Development

Contact: Chris Eastman 712.803.8200

Services Provided: Full Architectural Services

Team Members:

William Henry, Principal Architect

Reserve II Hand Rendered Site

Josh Buono, Project manager / Project Architect

Project Description

The Reserve II is a project located in the Carillon Master Development just west of I-275 in St. Petersburg. The design concept incorporated a Mediterranean style of architecture characteristics; similar to the first phase of the site.

This transpired through the use of different building types but the same construction method, known as Tunnel Form construction. This construction technique allows for rough building shells to be erected in a matter of days. The tunnel form process facilitates an aggressive building schedule and significant cost savings when certain economies of scale thresholds are met.

Reserve II 5 Wide Flat Option 3

The project consists of between 224 and 262 units. The units are part of 3 different building types over a 10 acre site. The tunnel form system requires that all swelling units incorporate a modular design to accommodate standard tunnel form sides. All of the buildings include ground floor enclosed garages interspersed with on grade paving to meet the code requirements. Additionally, the use of single story flats in conjunction with two story town home style apartments provide a multitude of unit plan options available for rent. The Reserve II also includes a luxurious 7,500 SF clubhouse with several amenities that include 2 pools, fitness facility, meandering lanai, BBQ grills throughout the site, volleyball court and other popular features.

The project is on hold at this time pending financing.