McKEON distributor Griesenbeck Architectural Products worked alongside Kendall/Heaton Associates Inc. and Gilbane on the new Hines Global Headquarters in Houston, TX!
Hines Headquarters is a six-level interior build-out within the forty-seven story Texas Tower located in the heart of Downtown Houston. This diamond in the Houston skyline pairs best-in-class design with a commitment to sustainability and wellness. The building is both LEED and WELL Building certified — it even has unique hallmark features such as public gardens!
Levels 30 through 35 of the building primarily serve as office, networking, and conference spaces. The office layout includes a communicating stair — creating an interconnected six-story vertical opening. The design team was challenged to provide a 2-HR rated opening protective which would deploy upon alarm activation limiting the number of floor openings to four as dictated by the local authorities having jurisdiction. This would allow for multiple communicating levels during normal business hours.
After consultations between Griesenbeck and Kendall/Heaton Associates it was decided that the McKEON AC8807-M-G would be installed on Level 32, achieving both code compliance and an open space design by creating two separate vertical spaces, one at four stories and one at two stories. The four-story space was protected with draft curtains and closely spaced sprinklers. The two-story space was allowed to be open with no additional protection. The side acting bi-parting accordion system is hidden within a decorative wall. When deployed it encloses nearly seventy-five linear feet of the 10-foot-high stairwell opening while navigating four 18-inch radius corners.
Early and sustained dialog between the architects at Kendall/Heaton, Griesenbeck consultants, and McKEON paved the way for a creative solution to a life safety challenge. The design team’s desired open floor plan was made a reality because of the commitment of the McKEON engineering team to technological advances like the extra-large accordion fire door!