Houston-based SpawGlass Construction Corp. recently completed the $70 million conversion of the historic Humble Oil Building in downtown Houston into 82 luxury apartment homes, a 191-room Courtyard by Marriott and a 171-room Residence Inn by Marriott.

The nine-story structure served as headquarters for Humble Oil & Refining Co., the predecessor of ExxonMobil, and was built in 1921 at a cost of $1.8 million.

Once the city's tallest building but vacant for a decade, the structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. SpawGlass renovated the building as a "certified historic rehabilitation."

The exterior, including the buff tapestry brick and terra cotta ornamentation, were cleaned and existing roof terraces in the apartment tower were re-utilized as private patios for residents. A missing and damaged section of the signature copper cornice encircling the building was replicated using a chemical aging compound.

Also included in the development was approximately 6,000 sq. ft. of retail space and a 252-space parking garage.

Dallas-based Cadence McShane Corp. was recently awarded a contract for complete expansion of the fine arts department at the University of Texas at Arlington.

The 36,375-sq.-ft. addition will encompass four campus buildings around a central courtyard. Each building will house classrooms and studios with improved lighting, ventilation and advanced equipment.

F&S Partners of Dallas is providing the architectural services for the project.

The university's sculpture, painting, metal and clay work, glassblowing and printmaking classes will be relocated to the new annex, which is to be completed in January.

The project represents the second at UT-Arlington for Cadence McShane, which is scheduled to complete the 65,297-sq.-ft. Continuing Education/Workforce Development Center in March.

The $50.9 million Grand Hyatt Hotel at DFW International Airport recently topped out with a rooftop concrete pour. The hotel, which is scheduled to open in January 2005, is an element of the International Terminal D project, which is under construction at the airport.

The 298-room hotel features a ballroom/banquet/conference center, restaurants, lounge, spa, rooftop swimming pool and fully equipped fitness center.

The 303,675-sq.-ft. facility features 12 levels, eight of which are reserved for guest rooms. The spa's facilities include a sauna and steam room and the fitness center will include cardiovascular and strength-training equipment.

The topping-out consisted of a 10-cu.-yd. concrete pour in 60-by-7-ft. sections. Just over 9,000 cu. yds. of concrete were used on the entire hotel project.

Fort Worth-based Haws & Tingle Ltd. was recently selected by the Dallas County Commissioners Court as general contractor for the new $38.9 million George L. Allen Sr.

Civil Courts project in downtown Dallas.

The 24 month construction program includes construction of a 10-story Civil Courts Building, which will feature more than 250,000 sq. ft. of space, and extensive renovations to several floors in the existing 12-story Courts Building.

Haws & Tingle is also providing historic renovation and preservation services to the Old Red Courthouse, located just across the street from the George Allen project site.
That $6.1 million project for Dallas County is scheduled for early November completion.

Houston-based Gilbane Building Cos. was recently selected by the Katy Independent School District as general contractor for a new $57 million high school and ninth-grade center.

The facility will encompass more than 600,000 sq. ft. and accommodate 3,000 students.

In addition to classrooms, library and media center, science and computer labs and an administrative suite, the school consists of specialty areas for fine arts performances, vocational learning and athletic activities.

The fine arts area will include a 900-seat auditorium, black box theater, band hall, orchestra room, choir room and art classrooms. The vocational area consists of an agricultural shop, metal shop and food science classrooms. The school will also have a journalism classroom complete with darkroom for photography.

Athletic facilities include three separate gymnasiums for competition and practices, a wrestling room, an eight-lane competition swimming pool, field house and locker rooms. A fourth gymnasium will be used for dances. Outdoor sports will be played on new football, baseball, softball and practice fields as well as nine tennis courts.

Construction is to be completed by June 2005.