Recently, BHB used this technology to assist a North Texas city through a multi-phase parks assessment to better understand infrastructure conditions, prioritize improvements, and plan for future investments.

Transforming Park Assessments with GIS-Grade Technology

For one city’s extensive park system, which included nearly 300 individual parks, BHB conducted a three-phase drainage and erosion assessment to identify high-priority areas for improvements.

Phase 1: Desktop Review
The first phase involved a GIS-based desktop evaluation of all parks in the system. Using aerial imagery, FEMA floodplain data, wetland mapping, and city stormwater infrastructure layers, BHB identified parks most at risk of drainage and erosion issues. Parks meeting key risk criteria such as proximity to floodplains, wetlands, or outfalls — were ranked for further field evaluation, while low-risk sites were documented as lower priority.

Phase 2: Field Assessment
Next, BHB’s team visited the higher-risk parks to conduct on-site assessments. Using a GIS-grade data collection app connected to a high-accuracy GNSS receiver, field teams documented conditions directly in the field, no clipboards or manual notes required.

Photos, locations, and comments were captured in real time, allowing drainage issues in ponds, streams, culverts, and storm drains to be efficiently recorded and categorized. Each park was scored based on drainage, erosion, and safety concerns, helping the city quickly identify which sites required the most attention.

Phase 3: Concept Design and Cost Opinions
In the final phase, BHB developed 30% concept-level plans and opinions of probable construction costs (OPC) for the eight parks with the greatest identified needs. These concept plans featured detailed site diagrams, recommended drainage improvements, and cost estimates to help the city prioritize future capital projects.

Advantages of GIS-Grade Data Collection

Using GIS-grade data collection tools allows BHB’s team to work more efficiently in the field and deliver more actionable insights to our clients. Key benefits included:

• Time Savings: Data collection, photos, and locations were captured simultaneously, eliminating the need for handwritten notes and manual data entry back in the office.
• Improved Organization: All field data, from photos to coordinates — was automatically stored and linked to each site, making reporting and analysis more seamless.
• Enhanced Collaboration: Because the data was digital, project teams could easily share maps, findings, and updates across disciplines in real time.

While GIS-grade data is not as precise as survey-grade equipment, it offers an ideal balance of accuracy and efficiency for planning and assessment-level projects. For large-scale evaluations like park systems or utility networks, this technology provides a fast, reliable way to visualize issues and guide decision-making.

Turning Data Into Better Decisions

Whether it’s assessing city parks, evaluating stormwater infrastructure, or supporting water system planning, BHB continues to embrace innovative technologies that help our clients make informed, data-driven decisions.

The post Bringing Efficiency and Insight to the Field: How BHB Uses GIS-Grade Data Collection to Support City Projects appeared first on BHB Inc: Dallas, Fort Worth, Grapevine & Weatherford.

At Baird, Hampton & Brown, we recognize the importance of sustainable development, protecting natural resources, and ensuring regulatory compliance. That’s why we’re proud to introduce our newest offering: Environmental Services. By expanding our service offerings, we’re able to help clients navigate regulatory complexity in a timely manner while supporting sustainable land development.

This new team is led by Certified Wildlife Biologist, Peter D. McKone, an environmental scientist bringing the BHB team 35 years of experience and a strong background in wildlife biology, wetlands, endangered species, and Waters of the United States (WOTUS) regulations. With Pete at the helm, BHB is equipped to address the environmental considerations that are often the first step in any land development project. When managed properly, these considerations can prevent delays, costly fines, and long-term risks.

The complexities that can arise during development often include factors such as identifying jurisdictional waters, navigating permitting processes, supporting mitigation efforts, and ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal environmental laws. Our team works closely with clients from the very beginning, providing timely environmental guidance that anticipates challenges and agency requirements, prevents potential issues from becoming obstacles, and safeguards project schedules.

Clients from all sectors will benefit from Pete’s deep understanding of wildlife regulations—such as nesting bird protections and endangered species protocols—as well

as his expertise with water rights, a particularly critical service in Texas where water is often over-appropriated. He guides project stakeholders through the required surveys, permitting, and mitigation steps associated with various wildlife habitats, and provides expert support in navigating the complex state and agency processes needed to secure water rights.

This specialized expertise is just one part of the comprehensive value BHB brings to each project. What truly sets BHB apart is our multidisciplinary approach—offering integrated services in environmental; civil, structural, and MEP engineering; land surveying; and landscape architecture—all under one roof. By collaborating from the outset, our team can incorporate environmental considerations directly into the design process.

The result: smart, streamlined solutions built for success.

Whether you need a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, a wetland mitigation strategy, or guidance through endangered species permitting, BHB’s Environmental Services team is ready to support your project every step of the way. Contact us today to learn how our expertise can help you navigate environmental challenges with confidence.

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The Beginning: Site Analysis

The process starts with a deep dive into the land itself. Landscape architects don’t just choose where to plant trees; they conduct a thorough site analysis. This involves understanding the topography, soil composition, hydrology, and any regulatory constraints. By examining these elements, our designers can craft spaces that blend harmoniously with their surroundings, conserving resources and enhancing functionality. Our team creates bubble plans and constraints maps during this phase to help visualize developable space and identify areas of preservation, serving as high-level marketing tools to build community consensus and support.

The Blueprint: Concept and Site Planning

Next, we move into the design phase, a crucial step for a variety of projects, including master-planned communities, commercial developments, and mixed-use projects. Here, BHB’s landscape architects and planners collaborate closely with surveyors, civil engineers, environmental specialists, architects, and stakeholders to develop conceptual site plans and ensure that all regulatory requirements, such as setbacks and street alignments, are met. This multidisciplinary approach ensures that every aspect of the project is seamlessly integrated into a functional design while meeting the client’s needs.

Navigating Regulations: Zoning and Permitting

As we progress, the journey involves navigating the complex world of zoning and permitting, the first step in bringing a concept plan to fruition. Our team can efficiently manage zoning maps, conditional use permits, preliminary plats, and entitlements by maintaining open communication and frequent coordination. This proactive approach saves valuable time and keeps the project on track.

Crafting Identity: Place Making

Place making is the art of crafting spaces that foster community and give each project a unique identity. Our landscape architects design streetscapes with thematic elements and wayfinding features to create a sense of place. They plan amenity centers, plazas, patios, and enhanced paving to provide gathering spots for social interaction. Thoughtful site furnishing selections, grading, and land sculpting contribute to the overall aesthetic and functionality, making each space unique and welcoming.

Creating Spaces for Community: Parks, Trails & Open Space

Our team focuses on creating inviting and functional recreational areas through the design of parks, trails, and open spaces. They select playground equipment that meets safety standards and encourages active play. Sports fields and multi-modal recreation trails are designed to accommodate various activities, promoting community health and well-being. By considering the natural landscape’s character and connectivity to the surrounding areas, they create seamless transitions between the built environment and the existing landscapes, enhancing accessibility and enjoyment for all users.

Bringing the Project to Life: Planting Design

Planting design is where the project truly comes to life. It’s not just about selecting plants; it’s about creating a cohesive and sustainable design. Our landscape architects choose species that thrive in the local climate, ensuring year-round beauty and resilience. They consider color palettes to enhance visual appeal and strategically place plants for screening and privacy. Our team also considers the architectural design of proposed buildings to ensure the planting design and species selection do not impede or compete with windows or other forms of natural lighting. Additionally, they address tree mitigation and preservation, complying with regulatory requirements to protect existing vegetation and promote ecological balance.

The Destination: A Comprehensive Approach

BHB’s landscape architecture studio offers a comprehensive approach to site development, from initial planning to final planting. By integrating multi-disciplinary expertise and focusing on detailed site analysis, conceptual planning, entitlement, place making, park and trail design, and planting design, we ensure that each project is functional, sustainable, aesthetically pleasing, and community-oriented. Our commitment to excellence and collaboration helps create spaces that enhance the quality of life for all who use them.

The post From Planning to Planting – The Journey of Turn-Key Design appeared first on BHB Inc: Dallas, Fort Worth, Grapevine & Weatherford.

Anyone who has grown up in North Texas knows the unmistakable sound of the tornado siren—whether it’s a routine weekly test or a real-life warning, often experienced from the safety of a closet or bathtub. From 1981 to 2010, Texas averaged more tornadoes annually than any other state, with an average of 150 tornadoes each year. These storms have the power to disrupt lives and damage property in an instant, from uprooting trees to leveling homes.

At BHB, we share a deep-rooted connection to the Texas community, and our commitment to tornado safety and storm shelters runs through everything we do. We understand firsthand the importance of designing safe, resilient buildings. That’s why, in addition to designing code-compliant storm shelters for our clients, we’re dedicated to advancing the practice of storm shelter design.

In response to changing regulations in the 2015 International Building Code (IBC), the National Storm Shelter Association (NSSA) developed its certification exam. The IBC, adopted by municipalities across the U.S., mandates that certain new buildings—based on their use and geographic location—include storm shelters built to withstand natural disasters, in compliance with ICC 500 standards.

To meet the growing demand for expertise in storm shelter design, the NSSA created its Advanced Professional (AP) program. This program offers certifications across multiple engineering disciplines, including structural, mechanical, electrical, civil, and architectural engineering. To achieve AP status, candidates must pass both a general knowledge exam and a specialty-specific exam. They must also serve as the architect or engineer of record on an approved storm shelter project.

Two of BHB’s mechanical engineers, Allen Grammer and Kirk Plum, are NSSA Accredited Professionals. Both serve Texas school districts by designing and conducting peer reviews of storm shelter plans. Allen also serves as Vice-Chair of the NSSA ICC 500 Chapter 7 workgroup, where he plays an active role in reviewing and updating code provisions to ensure they stay aligned with the latest technological advancements and evolving climate data.

Allen’s work on both the exam committee and the ICC 500 workgroup has deeply influenced his approach to emergency storm shelter design. One notable insight he gained was the flexibility allowed by the ICC 500 standards in storm shelter ventilation systems. For instance, during a tornado, wind pressures can easily exceed the pressure rating of typical ventilation ductwork construction. In that case, while the shelter would still be protected from dangerous flying debris, ductwork could be damaged during the tornado event, which could prevent proper operation during the emergency. Because of this, BHB designs low-cost pressure relief into our ductwork at the shelter penetration, allowing excess pressure to vent from the system without damage to the mechanical systems. This solution helps maintain a more secure environment, helping to give occupants peace of mind during a stressful situation.

At BHB, we take pride in applying this knowledge to real-world projects. For example, one of our recent storm shelter designs incorporated these ventilation strategies, ensuring occupants’ safety and comfort while meeting stringent code requirements. We provided these pressure relief systems for the Vanguard Preparatory School in Aledo, which had its groundbreaking event on Jan. 28th, into each duct penetrating the storm shelter envelope. This project design has passed a third-party storm shelter peer review, and construction is about to begin.

By focusing on safety and comfort, we design buildings that are not only prepared for extreme weather events but also incorporate innovative solutions that improve the overall experience for occupants. At BHB, we remain committed to helping our clients navigate these challenges, providing them with shelter solutions that are both safe and effective in the face of nature’s unpredictability.

The post Developing Expertise in Storm Shelter Design: A Look at the NSSA AP Program and Its Impact on Code Compliance appeared first on BHB Inc: Dallas, Fort Worth, Grapevine & Weatherford.

Building on its strong history of project success and client-centered service, BHB’s new Dallas office aims to meet the evolving needs of North Texas’s rapidly expanding residential, commercial, and municipal sectors. By bringing together a dedicated team of experienced professionals, the firm plans to provide comprehensive engineering solutions—from initial planning and design to final project execution—all under one roof. This local presence makes it easier for clients to collaborate and stay informed about project developments and reinforces BHB’s commitment to building long-term community partnerships.

To help drive the Dallas expansion, BHB is excited to welcome Christopher H. Blevins, PE, a senior civil engineer with more than 30 years of experience and a strong focus on solutions and relationship-building.

“Chris’s passion for innovation and problem-solving stands out, and we’re thrilled to have such talent on board,” said BHB President and CEO Trace Strevey.

Joining from HP Civil Engineering, where he served as Director of Engineering, Blevins has contributed to notable land development projects in and around Dallas. His extensive expertise and proven track record make him a pivotal addition to BHB’s efforts to deepen its footprint in Dallas.

“I’m excited to join BHB at such a pivotal time for the Dallas market,” said Blevins. “I look forward to building new relationships and utilizing my experience to deliver some truly unique new developments for our clients and the communities we serve.”

In addition, Peter Caravano, PE, CFM, recently promoted to Associate, will be teaming up with Blevins to lead the Dallas office, drawing on his six years of experience at BHB’s Grapevine location. Caravano is actively involved in the engineering community and is a recent recipient of the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Young Engineer of the Year award.

The post Expanding Horizons: BHB Opens New Dallas Office appeared first on BHB Inc: Dallas, Fort Worth, Grapevine & Weatherford.

Allen Grammer

International Code Council

ICC-500 Chapter 7 – Technical Committee Vice Chair – Current

Austin Baird

American Society of Civil Engineers

Fort Worth – Branch Advisor – Current

Fort Worth – President – Former

Texas  Society of Professional Engineers

State – Education Committee – Current

Fort Worth – Alternate State Director – Current

Fort Worth – President – Former

Bill Baird

American Society of Civil Engineers

Fort Worth – President – Former

Chandler Iozzi

ASHRAE

Fort Worth – Student Activities Co-Chair – Former

Daniel Franklin

Texas Society of Professional Engineers

Mid-Cities – Vice President – Current

Mid-Cities – Programming Committee Chair – Current

Mid-Cities – Treasurer – Former

Ian Bost

ASHRAE

Fort Worth – Student Activities Chair – Former

Fort Worth – Governor – Former

Jeremy Snyder

Texas Society of Professional Engineers

State – Board Member for MATHCOUNTS – Current

Fort Worth – Secretary – Current

Fort Worth – Director of Education – Former

Fort Worth – MATHCOUNTS Coordinator – Former

ASHRAE

Fort Worth – Chapter Technology Transfer Committee – Current

Fort Worth – Research Promotion Committee – Current

Fort Worth – President – Former

Fort Worth – Secretary – Former

Fort Worth – Treasurer – Former

Fort Worth – Historian – Former

Joe LaCroix

Texas Society of Professional Engineers

Fort Worth – Director of Outreach – Current

Fort Worth – VP Chapter Activities – Former

Fort Worth – Director of Mathcounts – Former

Ken Randall

Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce

Chairperson for the West Area Council – Current

Executive Board Member – Current

Texas Society of Professional Engineers

State – Membership Committee Chair – Former

Fort Worth – President – Former

Fort Worth – Director/ Vice President Public Relations – Former

Fort Worth – Director/ Vice President Chapter Activities – Former

Fort Worth – Director/ Vice President of Education – Former

Ryan Family YMCA

Board Chairperson – Former

Board Member – Former

Larry Colvin

Texas Parks & Wildlife

Texas Trails Advisory Board – Board Member – Former

Les Brown

ASHRAE

Fort Worth – President – Former

Lindsay Lafferty

American Society of Civil Engineers

Fort Worth – Webmaster – Current

Fort Worth – Vice President – Current

Fort Worth – Treasurer – Current

Fort Worth – Secretary – Former

Fort Worth – Director – Former

Fort Worth – Newsletter Chair – Former

Peter Caravano

American Society of Civil Engineers

Fort Worth – Webmaster – Current

Fort Worth – Student Chapter Advisor – Current

Fort Worth – Secretary – Current

Richard Watters

ASHRAE

Fort Worth – Audit Committee Chair – Current

Fort Worth – President – Former

Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce

Business Retention and Expansion Committee – Current

Downtwon Fort Worth Inc.

Board Member

Ron Ishmael

Structural Engineers Associate of Texas

President – Former

Secretary – Former

Saul Martinez

ASHRAE

Fort Worth – Young Engineers in ASHRAE (YEA) Committee Chair – Former

Fort Worth – Secretary – Former

Fort Worth – President – Former

Fort Worth – Research Promotion Committee Chair – Former

Fort Worth – Board of Governors – Former

Sean Rath

ASHRAE

Fort Worth – Research Promotion Committee Chair – Current

Shannon Nave

Upper Trinity Ground Water Conservation

Board of Directors Vice President – Current

Thomas Wilson

Texas Society of Professional Engineers

Fort Worth – Treasurer – Former

National Storm Shelter Association

Technical Advisor – Former

The post Leadership in Engineering: Celebrating our Engineers’ Service on PE Day appeared first on BHB Inc: Dallas, Fort Worth, Grapevine & Weatherford.

Zweig Group’s 2023 Best Firms to Work For

For the fourth year in a row, BHB Engineering has secured an impressive position on the Zweig Group’s 2023 Best Firms to Work For list, ranking #13 in the 100-199 Employees category and #22 in the Multidiscipline category.

This recognition is a result of thorough evaluations encompassing workplace practices, benefits, retention rates, and various other factors that contribute to an exceptional working environment. These rankings are particularly significant as they are derived directly from employee surveys, making them a true reflection of the sentiments and experiences of those working within our organization.

2024 Best Place for Working Parents

Adding to our list of achievements, BHB has been named one of the Best Place for Working Parents in 2024 for the fourth consecutive year. This award underscores our company’s commitment to fostering a family-friendly atmosphere that accommodates the unique needs of working parents. BHB recognizes the importance of supporting its employees in their professional and personal lives, through every stage of parenthood and career.

These accolades truly showcase our emphasis on creating a workplace where individuals can thrive both personally and professionally. As BHB continues to evolve and innovate, these annual awards stand as a testament to our ongoing commitment to excellence in all aspects of our operations. We are proud that our dedication to employee satisfaction, career growth, and a supportive work environment has positioned us among the industry’s elite.

The post BHB Wins Awards Recognizing Excellence in Workplace Culture appeared first on BHB Inc: Dallas, Fort Worth, Grapevine & Weatherford.

Richard Watters is the Chairman of BHB’s Training and Development Committee; he played a massive role in getting Building Blocks up and running and knew the importance that Building Blocks will have in the growth of BHB. “We were so excited to see Building Blocks come to life and grateful for all of our employees that committed to attend and learn more,” he said. “This type of event naturally helps the firm get better by providing a structured and meaningful way for each of us to learn more about what we do or about the future we have at BHB.”

BHB co-founder Bill Baird kicked the event off with an inspiring Keynote speech detailing BHB’s history, reminiscing on our humble beginnings, and thanking those who helped us rise to where we are today. Bill shared how supportive the founders’ spouses had been when they started their new venture and how he still uses the same desk Les Brown’s wife had purchased from a going-out-of-business furniture sale when they all moved into their first office. During the Keynote, it was very apparent how much our three co-founders care about the company and the friends, family, clients, and employees that helped them grow from a team of three to now leading a company of over 130 employees.

Classes followed shortly after the keynote speech. These classes were divided into four categories: General Business, Professional Growth, Personal Growth, and Client Management. General Business focused on the inner workings of the business, covering our firm’s best practices, strategies, and skills that everyone can put into practice daily. Professional Growth covered topics like Project Management, BHB Career Paths, and intro classes to different departments like Civil and Electrical so individuals could dive deeper into their field or learn about another discipline. Personal Growth offered courses in Ethics and Stress Management so one could learn to navigate common ethical dilemmas, recognize the signs of burnout, and know that it is ok to ask for help when feeling overwhelmed. Client Management covered the importance of client relationships, creating a solid network that can lead to future projects, and communicating with fellow engineers and clients to benefit both parties.

Joe LaCroix, PE, had the pleasure of being both a presenter and attendee. “I enjoyed the opportunity to share some of the expertise and background of what all the civil department is engaged in during various aspects of our projects with the rest of the company,” he said. “This great event allowed BHB to come together to learn, lead, and grow as a team.”

Watters had a unique view of the seminars. As he popped into each seminar to ensure things ran smoothly, he witnessed its impact on everyone. “My favorite part of the two-day event was being part of the camaraderie and hearing different variations of ‘I had no idea,’” he said. “We learned about each other and the different services we all offer – especially how we work together to serve our clients. My personal hope is that we all learned new, fun things about engineering and surveying – but especially where to go if questions come up in the future.”

At the completion of Building Blocks, each employee received a certificate for each course they attended to go toward their professional development hours. BHB’s Training and Development Committee is already planning next year’s sessions.

The post Building Blocks: BHB’s Annual Seminar Series appeared first on BHB Inc: Dallas, Fort Worth, Grapevine & Weatherford.

We celebrated a huge milestone in 2022– our 30th anniversary! We started 769 new projects and were able to serve 186 Texas cities. We had multiple promotions: four Senior Associates, four Associates, and five Project Managers. Our staff grew to over 130 employees with 47% having tenure over five years. We earned four awards:

• Zweig Group’s Best Firms to Work For – #14 in 100-199 Employees category, #27 Multidiscipline
• UTA College of Business MAVS 100 – #55
• Engineering News-Record (ENR) Texas & Lousiana’s Best Project K-12 – Abilene ISD’s LIFT Center
• Best Place For Working Parents

More highlights include:

Some of our most notable projects of the year include:

• TCU East Campus Housing
• Blazing Trail Development
• Tarrant County Corrections Center – Replacement of Air Handling Units
• HEB Heritage Trace
• Covenant Classical School Baseball Field

Overall, 2022 was an outstanding year filled with celebration, and we can’t wait to carry it on to 2023.

The post BHB Looks Back at Highlights of 2022 appeared first on BHB Inc: Dallas, Fort Worth, Grapevine & Weatherford.

BHB provided the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering services to remodel and upgrade FirstCash Fort Worth’s corporate headquarters. FirstCash Fort Worth is located at 1600 W 7^th St, Fort Worth, TX 76102, and is a nine-story, 165,550 SF commercial office building that was originally built in 1985 but has undergone several renovations since then. BHB has completed several renovations throughout the building, two of the biggest being the 6^th and 8^th floor remodels.

Our MEP team redesigned two floors and a data center in the building. The core infrastructure remained the same, but the BHB mechanical team replaced the downstream ductwork and terminal units to allow for optimal comfort control and energy savings. The new equipment and fixtures were also designed and installed to meet or exceed current requirements of the International Energy Conservation Code. The building’s electrical design included complying with the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code. To comply with this code, the BHB electrical team designed vacancy and occupancy sensors for lighting controls and sensors for daylight harvesting.

Throughout the past year, BHB worked with the building owner to help the building secure the energy star certification, and the building needed to score 75 or higher on the ENERGY STAR scale of 1-100 in order to qualify for the certification. FirstCash scored 75 out of a 100, which means that it’s 75% more energy efficient than similar properties nationwide. This certification illustrates the building is saving more energy, money, and protecting the environment by generating less greenhouse gases.

The ENERGY STAR Certification is a multi-step process that involves a Professional Engineer who identifies the building size, type, and various uses, as well as documenting energy usage for twelve months. BHB Associate and mechanical engineer Saul Martinez walked through the FirstCash building with the facilities manager to verify usage and occupancy, as well as worked to procure the electric utility bills and diesel invoices between February 2021 – February 2022 to verify the building’s total energy usage. Saul and the mechanical team also had to document the building’s weekly operating hours, number of building occupants, building area, number of computer workstations, and identify data centers in the building as well.

Although it was a multi-step process with lots of items to track, BHB was happy to help with this certification process. Overall, BHB strives to implement cost-saving and energy efficient measures to meet a client’s needs.

“We look forward to partnering with FirstCash in 2023 to help certify their building again!,” said Saul Martinez, PE.

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