Houston Endowment Headquarters

Houston, TX, USA

Integrating acoustics and sustainability for an award winning mass timber building

Since its inception, Houston Endowment has contributed almost $2 billion to support organizations and systems that benefit the people of Greater Houston. The foundation recently moved into its new headquarters — a $33 million, 32,000-square-foot mass timber facility winning accolades and awards for its sustainable, Net Zero design.

Photos

Houston Endowment Headquarters by Lawrence Elizabeth Knox
Image courtesy of Lawrence Elizabeth Knox

Services provided

  • The Challenge

    Mass timber construction invariably leads to the presence of exposed timber. While visually appealing, this design feature brings about acoustical challenges since exposed wood structural elements are reflective of sound.

  • Our Approach

    Our team of acoustics experts strategically incorporated areas of acoustical absorption in a manner that allowed exposed wood to remain a highlight of the design.

    • In conference rooms and private office spaces, acoustical ceiling tiles were installed in 'cloud' formations with gaps around the edges to keep the mass timber construction visible above. This treatment was supplemented, where necessary, with acoustical felt wall panels.
    • In the boardroom, a stretched fabric acoustical ceiling cloud was installed, leaving the structure exposed around its perimeter. As well, wood slat acoustical panels were installed on walls.
    • In the atrium, as seem in the photo, an open wood grill was installed below acoustical absorption over the central area, whereas the mass timber structure was left exposed in the perimeter circulation areas.
    • The use of electronic sound masking was recommended to improve the acoustics of atrium area.

  • The Outcome

    As a result of RWDI's efforts, the Houston Endowment Headquarters functions very successfully from an acoustic perspective without compromising the architect's vision. The acoustical finish treatment strategy used by RWDI balanced the desire to leave the mass timber structure mostly visible from below with the functional need to introduce acoustically absorbent finishes in order to maintain speech intelligibility and control the potential for noise build-up. This was all successfully achieved within project budget limits. Houston Endowment Headquarters has been the recipient of several architecture and design awards, including the Texas Society of Architects Design Award, the AIA Houston Design Award, the AIA California Merit Award, and Architect Magazine's Progressive Architecture Award.