http://blog.archpaper.com/wordpress/archives/70592 The Architect's Newspaper Blog From The Pages of Texas Architect: Astrodome Update by Ben Koush [ Editor's Note: For those of you who are getting excited about The Architect's Newspaper and YKK AP's Reimagine the Astrodome design ideas competition, you have until September 17 to register. Once you've done that, take the time to read the following article, which appeared in the September/October 2013 issue of Texas Architect. Written by Houston-based architect and writer Ben Koush, it covers the current status of the Dome, what it means to Harris County, and Space City's record of not bothering to preserve its architectural heritage. ] Ever since the Houston Oilers owner Bud Adams, in a snit after being refused a new stadium, took his football team to Nashville in 1997 and renamed it the Tennessee Titans, the fate of the Astrodome has been up in the air. Matters were made worse when, instead of rehabilitating the Astrodome a new, neo-traditionalist baseball stadium, Minute Maid Park, was built down-town for the Astros in 1999, and then in 2002, a hulking new football stadium, Reliant Center, was built uncomfortably close to its predecessor to house the replacement team, the Houston Texans, and the Houston Rodeo. The Astrodome, designed by local architects Lloyd, Morgan & Jones and Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson, opened in 1965 to national acclaim as the nation’s first covered and completely air-conditioned baseball and football stadium. It was inspired by Harris County Judge Roy Hofheinz’s visit to the ancient Roman Colosseum, where he learned that a retractable canvas cover, the velarium, was once extended to shade most of the seats from the hot Italian sun. The novelty of the covered Texas sports stadium and its one-of-a-kind AstroTurf were pivotal points in the history of sports facilities. However, the decades have taken their toll. And in comparison to the recent crop of flashy new stadiums, the Astrodome looks downright dumpy. In a city that generally equates old with bad, these kinds of situations are usually resolved by demolition. Think Shamrock Hotel (largest hotel in America when it was opened in 1949); River Oaks Shopping Center (the New Deal-era prototype for an uncountable number of strip centers in the country); the Prudential Building (Houston’s first “suburban” skyscraper); and—being demolished as I write this—the former Foley Brothers department store (the grandest and last major downtown department store to be built in any American city). Given this trend, one cannot help but be surprised by what seems to be a miraculous turn of events. Almost as soon as the Astrodome was mothballed, eager would-be developers began pushing proposals for its redevelopment. The pressure increased notably when it became clear that Harris County is using some $3 million to $4 million of public money to maintain the stadium in its unused state each year. Suggestions included hotels, casinos, movie studios, amusement parks, museums, and, my personal favorite, a scheme by recent University of Houston architectural graduate student Ryan Slattery to strip the dome to its steel skeleton and repurpose it as a gigantic, 9-acre gazebo to shade a variety of outdoor activities. Reject, reject, reject. But with the news that Houston will be the location of the 2017 Super Bowl, speculation has intensified that current Harris County Judge Ed Emmett must decide if the Astrodome is to be demolished, as seems to be the desire of the Houston Rodeo in particular, or to be rehabilitated, as seems to be the desire of most Houstonians, who increasingly see it as the city’s signature architectural landmark. Rehabilitation of the iconic building would clearly avoid national embarrassment when the anticipated hordes of visiting sports commentators and football fans descend upon Reliant Stadium. National attention to Houston’s conundrum included articles in the New York Times and the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s decision to include the Astrodome on its 2013 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. This summer, Judge Emmett issued an ultimatum that redevelopment proposals would have to be submitted by June 10. The Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation (HCSCC) selected one of the proposals and will put it forward for a public vote in November for bond approvals. If the proposal is rejected, the Astrodome will be demolished. In late June, the HCSCC reviewed the 19 official submissions and duly approved what appears to be a somewhat banal scheme. “The New Dome Experience,” presented by HCSCC Executive Director Willie Loston, seeks to repurpose the Astrodome as a 350,000-sf column-free exhibition space, with an estimated price tag of $194 million. Why such a large convention center? For one thing, participants of the Offshore Technology Conference, which has annual trade shows at the Reliant Center, have been pushing to exhibit ever-larger oil and gas production devices—imagine entire offshore drilling rigs. Other sug*gested uses include moving the Rodeo’s carnival under cover, housing high school football games, and providing the ever-popular emergency hous*ing in times of disaster. Emmett was recently quoted by writer Whitney Radley as saying, “I think the concept is outstanding, and at the end of it, I really believe that Houston and Harris County would become the event capital of the world.” It’s not all just boosterism, however. This scheme also proposes to include some 400,000 sf of programmed, semi-public outdoor space. So here’s to its success at the ballot boxes in November and to the hope that Houston might someday realize that its architectural patrimony is indeed worth maintaining rather than destroying. Ben Koush is a Houston-based architect and writer.
This looks pretty good. If its only an $8 increase to taxes a year like they've been saying, I would vote for this.
Here's some more new info.... http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2013/10/saving_the_astrodome_demolitio.php
So, I am heading to the polls tomorrow afternoon. Undecided on astrodome. Leaning towards vote for no. Anyone want to convince me to vote yes?
So where are all of those people in business attire walking? The Burger King 500 yards away past the 20 foot high barb wire topped fence?
Spread over the population it doesn't really cost very much, but what is does is preserve a Houston institution, part of of our cities identity, history and pride and that has value. There's little doubt that it will be a useful facility and provide a lot of opportunities we can even envision yet. It is a unique and amazing structure with it's own cache that will attract people and business. Imagine a whole Eagle Ford sized drilling and fracking rig set up in it for the OTC. There is however a lot of doubt about if it would even come close to breaking even so if you vote for it you have accept the citizens will pay for it.
It will ultimately cost more money than they are asking for now and if this city is going to vote to take $8 from me they should invest it into the actual citizens of the city and their education, protection, not spend it on this just to say we did.
vote for it. this will bring money to the area and events to houston. your $8 will be repaid over and over when you factor the increased business revenue, travel, and spotlight this will bring to the city. saving a landmark (though extremely important) is small potatoes when it comes to the business end of this deal. more development in the area. newer hotels. more small business. go vote.
Hilarious that people think a renovated Astrodome will boost tourism. "Well, honey, we usually go to Gulf Shores for the week but Houston just renovated an antiquated old stadium that has a roof! Let's go there!" Understand that folks have an appreciation for the building, but I am in the let's tear it down camp. Loved the Oilers and seeing them play there but it is a relic
Hit reply early, what I meant to say. Tear this sucker down or in 20 years you'll be voting a new bill to renovate or destroy except then, the price for either will have doubled or tripled.
Not family tourism..conventions. It's niched enough...with enough historical significance...to be a player in attracting huge conventions. That's the hope. I already voted for it. I think it's ok for a city to value its own history, and not seek constantly to raze itself to the ground. I think that's healthy, honestly.
I voted for it. I thought the price per person to salvage history was very small. I'm mad I missed out on the auction though.
