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
| Nov 5, 2013
New IECC provision tightens historic building exemption
The International Energy Conservation Code has been revised to eliminate what has been seen as a blanket exemption for historic buildings.
| Oct 30, 2013
15 stellar historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and renovation projects
The winners of the 2013 Reconstruction Awards showcase the best work of distinguished Building Teams, encompassing historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and renovations and additions.
| Oct 25, 2013
Hoffmann Architects announces launch of U.S. Capitol Dome restoration
The Architect of the Capitol will undertake comprehensive restoration of the 150-year-old cast iron Dome, which has not undergone a complete restoration since 1959-1960.
| Oct 23, 2013
Manhattan's landmark Marble Collegiate Church modernized
Helpern Architects, Structure Tone led the Building Team in a multi-phase project.
| Oct 22, 2013
Slow-growth economy continues to boost renovations over new construction
Major renovation projects—those costing more than $100,000—climbed as a share of total nonresidential construction as the recession began and haven’t yet come down, breaking from historic patterns.
| Oct 15, 2013
Historic LA YMCA-turned apartment building wins World Architecture Festival award
A major renovation of an historic YMCA in Los Angeles to an apartment facility was named the 2013 World Architecture Festival Housing Award recipient.
| Oct 7, 2013
Nation's first glass curtain wall exterior restored in San Francisco
The Hallidie Building's glass-and-steel skin is generally recognized as the forerunner of today’s curtain wall facilities.
| Oct 7, 2013
Lenders want better data to fund more green building retrofits
The CEO of Pittsburgh’s Green Building Alliance says lenders want better data to justify loans for green building retrofits.
| Oct 1, 2013
Renovation of historic Winchester, Va., buildings uncovers Civil War cannonball, bullets
The renovation of a set of historic downtown Winchester, Va., buildings led to the discovery of several historic artifacts including a Civil War cannonball and bullets, a variety of old baseball cards, and a 1940s-era newspaper embedded in the drywall.
| Sep 24, 2013
Hersheypark Arena ceiling renovation brightens interior, improves acoustics
Hersheypark Arena in Hershey, Pa., unveiled a new look following a $500,000 ceiling renovation.
