Texas State University – The Den
San Marcos, Texas
Expertise
- Education
Services
- structural engineering
- electrical engineering
- mechanical / plumbing engineering
Size
- 3,128 SF
BHB provided electrical, mechanical, and structural engineering services for this two-story, approximately 3,128-square-foot renovation and addition at Texas State University. The Den offers various dining options for students living on campus, including several restaurants and seating areas for students to eat, work, or socialize.
The renovation project revamps the kitchen area and makes the space more inviting for students to take advantage of the new grab and go food stations. There will also be a new seating area to make space for students to plug-in their phones and laptops.
Included in this project was the design of an outdoor courtyard and pavilion that will be built in a future phase of the project. The outdoor area will feature a wooden arbor structure, lighting, digital screens, and a marble fountain.
The building was updated with new electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems, lighting, and a modern aesthetic that provides a more desirable place for students to gather. There is also new bar seating with windows that open to the courtyard outside, as well as several booths and tables for seating.
For the kitchen renovation, the university’s maintenance team wanted all kitchen equipment to be able to be “unplugged.” However, most pieces of commercial kitchen equipment are hard-wired and do not use a plug. To satisfy this request, the BHB team implemented a specialty connector that allows the kitchen equipment to be hard-wired or unplugged.
If the pluggable connectors were installed at the wall behind the kitchen equipment, it would have pushed the equipment out from under the exhaust hoods, which would have been unsafe. BHB had to come up with a creative solution and place the connectors in a different location to maintain safety standards while catering to the university’s requests.
Key People
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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
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Ian Bost, PE, LEED AP
Ian Bost, PE, LEED AP
Principal | Senior Mechanical Engineer
Ian Bost began working at BHB in 2001. As one of the youngest and newest additions to the leadership team, Ian still considers himself a kid despite being over the age of 35. Ian’s success at BHB has fostered several new relationships with higher education institutions for which he has become the primary point of contact. His projects at UNT, TCU, and UTA are some of the most technologically advanced for colleges and universities. They have included systems such as single-zone VAV AHUs and chilled beam systems.
Ian’s passion for engineering efficient systems stems from his desire to be a good steward of the land. He is involved with the AIA 2030 Challenge and works closely with our clients to provide sustainable design. Over the years Ian has continuously been involved with professional societies including the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the Texas Society of Professional Engineers. His role as a past president of the Fort Worth ASHRAE Chapter has grown into mentorships for new chapter presidents and members.
He tries to live a balanced life with his family: wife Carmen and their four kids. Ian is a Texas Tech Red Raider Alumni who enjoys supporting his college and its athletic programs. Ian enjoys living and promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Project Experience
Arborlawn United Methodist Church
Central Texas College Nursing Center
Keller ISD Timberview Middle School
Northpark YMCA
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
Education
Texas Tech University:
Bachelor’s Degree/2000/Mechanical Engineering -
Allen Grammer, PE, NSSA AP
Allen Grammer, PE, NSSA AP
Associate | Mechanical Engineer
Growing up with a construction engineer father, Allen was always fascinated by the giant machines; as he grew up, the technical and problem-solving aspects of the industry drew him to his career as a mechanical engineer. He’ll tell you that it is just as much fun as he imagined it would be. Allen found BHB during his senior year at TCU, when a classmate and then-intern at the company encouraged him to apply. His work experience also includes a summer internship with the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Washington, DC, and he is currently active in the leadership team of the Fort Worth Chapter of ASHRAE.
Not a lot of people know that Allen plays the violin – a little bit of everything, from Mozart to Charlie Daniels. He also enjoys all things tech (such as playing games on the computer), traveling to Disney world, and spending time with his wife Kacy and their small cat family.
Education
Texas Christian University:
Bachelors/2012/Mechanical Engineering