The ruins of the 80-room Hot Wells Hotel and Bathhouse in San Antonio, a popular destination in the area in the years prior to World War I, are currently undergoing a transformation into a public park.
Phase one of the project, which involved stabilizing the existing structures, creating a park entrance and signage, building public bathrooms, and extending utilities to the buildings, has recently completed. The second phase will create outdoor rental spaces and new landscaping and trails that connect the park to the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River.
Phase two will also turn the hotel’s ruins into a community space. A demonstration kitchen, a mini museum that details the site’s past, a visitor center, and a gift shop will be included on the old bathhouse’s first floor. The second floor will include a classroom and computer lab and the third floor will house a meeting room and offices.
See Also: Notre Dame fire highlights danger of renovating historic structures
The completed park will host events such as black and white movie screenings, a farmers market, yoga, and art exhibitions.
Related Stories
Reconstruction & Renovation | May 26, 2023
Boulder, Colo., puts sustainable deconstruction policy into action
Three quarters of a closed hospital’s building materials and equipment are being reused for new construction, or resold.
Sponsored | Building Enclosure Systems | May 16, 2023
4 steps to a better building enclosure
Dividing the outside environment from the interior, the building enclosure is one of the most important parts of the structure. The enclosure not only defines the building’s aesthetic, but also protects occupants from the elements and facilitates a comfortable, controlled climate. With dozens of components comprising the exterior assemblies, from foundation to cladding to roof, figuring out which concerns to address first can be daunting.
Multifamily Housing | May 16, 2023
Legislators aim to make office-to-housing conversions easier
Lawmakers around the country are looking for ways to spur conversions of office space to residential use.cSuch projects come with challenges such as inadequate plumbing, not enough exterior-facing windows, and footprints that don’t easily lend themselves to residential use. These conditions raise the cost for developers.
Sustainability | May 11, 2023
Let's build toward a circular economy
Eric Corey Freed, Director of Sustainability, CannonDesign, discusses the values of well-designed, regenerative buildings.
Office Buildings | May 4, 2023
In Southern California, a former industrial zone continues to revitalize with an award-winning office property
In Culver City, Calif., Del Amo Construction, a construction company based in Southern California, has completed the adaptive reuse of 3516 Schaefer St, a new office property. 3516 Schaefer is located in Culver City’s redeveloped Hayden Tract neighborhood, a former industrial zone that has become a technology and corporate hub.
Higher Education | Apr 17, 2023
Rider University opens a 'Zen Den' for restoring students' mental well-being
Rider University partnered with Spiezle Architectural Group to create a relaxation room for students, dubbed "The Zen Den."
Libraries | Mar 26, 2023
An abandoned T.J. Maxx is transformed into a new public library in Cincinnati
What was once an abandoned T.J. Maxx store in a shopping center is now a vibrant, inviting public library. The Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library (CHPL) has transformed the ghost store into the new Deer Park Library, designed by GBBN.
Government Buildings | Mar 24, 2023
19 federal buildings named GSA Design Awards winners
After a six-year hiatus, the U.S. General Services Administration late last year resumed its esteemed GSA Design Awards program. In all, 19 federal building projects nationwide were honored with 2022 GSA Design Awards, eight with Honor Awards and 11 with Citations.
Affordable Housing | Mar 8, 2023
7 affordable housing developments built near historic districts, community ties
While some new multifamily developments strive for modernity, others choose to retain historic aesthetics.
Reconstruction & Renovation | Mar 8, 2023
Hoffmann Architects + Engineers receives Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award from New York Landmarks Conservancy
Hoffmann Architects + Engineers, a design firm specializing in the rehabilitation of building exteriors, announces that the historic facade rehabilitation and window replacement at the 69th Regiment Armory has been selected for the Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award, the New York Landmarks Conservancy’s prestigious recognition for outstanding preservation efforts.