ArchProg

Cherrywood Neighborhood Association
Feb 25, 2001

Architectural Program for Fiesta Electric Substation

Gas Insulated Substation functional requirements are acknowledged, and technical aspects are left to ABB and Consort. Layout and plan configuration as proposed by ABB, including underground connection from street to facility, enclosed building for GIS equipment, and Transmitter Equipment Yard with security screening.

This first GIS facility should incorporate the highest Urban design standards, and the Community input process should become a prototype for such facilities in Austin:

Design should be timeless and unique
Design Concept should showcase facility assets
Facility should function as landmark gateway to Cherrywood Neighborhood
Design should anticipate the widening of IH35, and the ultimate removal of the adjacent facilities at the corner of IH35. West and South facades will then become primary elevations seen from IH35 and 38th½ east bound approaches

Facility should be required to achieve a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Rating.

Facility function should not be not obscured – make it interesting, educational and fun. Rather than seek to obscure or hide the purpose of the building, or to imitate nearby buildings with dissimilar functions, an effort should be made to acknowledge – even celebrate – the function of this building by artfully juxtaposing sculptural building elements characterized by varying degrees of solidity and transparency.

Some mechanical equipment artfully exposed to public view, both to make it a design feature and to inform passers-by

Horizontal solid mass (GIS unit)
Vertical tower (with clock face and possible antennae at roof)
Mechanical equipment open to view through grillwork or the like (transformers, switchgear)
Bus shelter and pocket-park amenities as integral part of the site (38½ St side) ? Tower
Modern, dominate-shape concept
Cherrywood logo
AE logo
Lighting
Clock
Antennae, etc. on roof

Dense, painful shrubbery at solid walls to discourage graffiti
Low-maintenance, low water-using, native plant materials
Ornamentals
Shade trees to make pocket park habitable
Pocket park facilities should be accessible to the mobility-impaired, and should accommodate pedestrian traffic from 38th½, east bound and west bound, and from the Fiesta shopping center.
In long-range plan, landscaping should be increased at corner to replace pervious cover removed by facility.

ABB Site Layout:
JPG map (1/2 M)
PDF map (1 M)