Fire Station Park
Fort Worth, Texas
Expertise
- Recreational
Services
- structural engineering
- electrical engineering
Size
- 1.35 Acres
BHB provided electrical and structural engineering services for the expansion of Fire Station Park in the Near Southside of Fort Worth. With the nearest skate park about 13 miles away via toll road, the location (1616 Hemphill Street, adjacent to the Fire Station Community Center) was selected to provide easy access to safe places to skate and socialize in a more convenient and centralized location.
New features of the park include 1) Dickies Skate Plaza, a 15,000-square-foot skate park featuring a diverse range of elements for skateboarders of all skill levels, 2) a 5,000-square-foot, closed-loop, concrete bicycle track consisting of rolling berms and other elements connected by banked-turns, 3) a community green for open play and public events, 4) a market plaza for local vendors and gatherings, and 5) an enclosed dog park for unleashed dogs to play.
BHB reviewed the skate park component, designed the steel structures, and assisted with geotechnical recommendations and how to implement them on the project.
The electrical distribution and design for Fire Station Park was designed in two phases. The initial phase provided for site lighting and a conduit backbone that would be utilized for future circuits to minimize landscape disruption in the event of future growth. The site lighting took on two distinct roles: functional and aesthetic. The skate park required higher lighting levels for use at night, while additional site lighting was chosen aesthetically to provide a more industrial feel. Power was planned and routed for the new custom LED entrance sign which illuminates the night with a dark orange hue.
A grassroots fund raising campaign for the $2.6 million expansion allowed Near Southside residents to provide input on design. Funding was largely comprised of corporate donations, individual donations, City of Fort Worth donation matching, City of Fort Worth park dedication fees collected from developers, and The Near Southside Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District.
Key People
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Ken Randall, PE, LEED AP
Ken Randall, PE, LEED AP
Chief Executive Officer | Senior Electrical Engineer
Ken Randall’s reputation as a solutions-oriented electrical engineer has enabled him to evaluate and design complex commercial and industrial electrical distribution systems. His projects range from small remodels to new one-million-square-foot buildings.
As Chief Executive Officer, Ken leads the development of BHB’s long and short term strategies along with managing overall business operations and also serves as the electrical team leader. His approach to projects and client service is to continually strive to meet the Owner’s vision and to design with new concepts and technologies with better buildings in mind.
Ken is a former Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) of Tarrant County, and he was nominated as Rookie of the Year for the organization in 2014. He is involved in the Texas Society of Professional Engineers, promoting the continuing education of engineers in Fort Worth. Ken and his wife Tammy are active members of Abiding Faith Lutheran Church.
Project Experience
Arborlawn United Methodist Church
Arlington Animal Services Center
Arlington Heights Animal Hospital
Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex
Central Texas College Nursing Center
Doss Heritage and Culture Center
Fort Worth Country Day Lou and Nick Martin Campus Center
Fort Worth Country Day Sid W. Richardson Visual Arts Center
Imperial Construction Office and Shop
Keller ISD Timberview Middle School
Early Learning Center
Mounted Patrol Equestrian Facility
Northpark YMCA
Ott Cribbs Public Safety Center
Rogers Road Pavilion
Tarrant County Downtown Courthouse
Tarrant County Northwest Sub-Courthouse
Tarrant County Sub-Courthouse
TCU Annie Richardson Bass Building
TCU Charlie and Marie Lupton Baseball Clubhouse
TCU Ed & Rae Schollmaier Arena
TCU Frog Alley Parking Garage
TCU Mary Couts Burnett Library
TCU Rees-Jones Hall
Texas Wesleyan University Jack and Jo Willa Morton Fitness Center
Weatherford College Professional Services
Education
University of Texas at Arlington:
Bachelor’s Degree/1998/Electrical Engineering -
Ronald Ishmael, PE, LEED AP
Ronald Ishmael, PE, LEED AP
Senior Associate | Structural Engineer
Growing up, Ronald’s family had strong ties to the construction industry and was often involved in some type of construction project – whether it be for a local nonprofit, family members, or the farm he lived on. In fact, his childhood home was a barn that his parents turned into a house. It comes as no surprise that Ronald knew he wanted a career in construction from a young age, and his success in mathematics pushed him toward engineering. He attended Texas A&M University to pursue a degree in construction management through the civil engineering department. During his last semester, however, the degree program was altered, and he decided to switch to the specialty of structural engineering. The unplanned change of course turned out to be exactly what Ronald had been looking for.
Now, he has garnered nearly 15 years of diverse industry experience and continues his journey at BHB as the firm’s first structural engineer. His background includes structural design services for new and existing buildings, structural assessments and evaluations, historic preservation, and forensic failure investigations. Ronald has experience with multiple construction materials such as steel, concrete, wood/timber, cold formed steel, ICF, foundations, and FRP, and has extensive experience in elevated concrete design. He is also heavily involved in the Fort Worth Structural Engineers Association of Texas (SEAoT) and is a past president of the International Concrete Repair Institute.
Outside of the office walls, Ronald spends his spare time with his wife, a high school anatomy and forensics teacher, and two children, Laykin and Cohen. He can often be found fishing, working on personal construction projects including his wife’s classroom, playing with his kids, and rooting for the Texas A&M football team. Ronald also enjoys traveling to unique places and finding activities that involve communicating and interacting with local residents. His recent expeditions include visiting off-the-path wineries in Napa and Sonoma, finding local hot spots in Alaska, and taking a road trip through the Philippines.
Education
Texas A&M University:
Bachelor’s Degree/2006/Civil Engineering
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Thomas Wilson, PE
Thomas Wilson, PE
Associate | Electrical Engineer
Thomas has always wanted to be an engineer; as a child he played outside with his brother, building cities in the dirt with matchbox cars, wood block buildings, and even designing roads. He enjoys the profession’s capacity to provide a creative outlet through math and problem solving. His early work experience took place in his Oma’s convenience store, expanding his world view from an early age and instilling in him an appreciation for the diversity of people and their experiences. He ultimately found BHB through interactions with electrical engineer, Paul Morris, while Thomas worked for the City of Fort Worth. He was impressed with the company culture and quality of work that he had the chance to review, and knew the company would be a good fit for him.
Thomas enjoys volunteering at church, cooking on his barbeque pit, camping, and spending time with his wife, Aryana, and daughter, Penelope. He also enjoys a good cumbia, domino game of 42, or really any activity involving a gathering of his friends and family. He is an active member of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers.
Education
Texas State University:
Bachelors/2010/Manufacturing Engineering