The Sinclair
Fort Worth, TX
Expertise
- Historical
- Hospitality
Services
- electrical engineering
- mechanical / plumbing engineering
- civil engineering
Size
- 105,600 SF
There is nothing ordinary about the improvements and renovations being made to The Sinclair in downtown Fort Worth. What was once an office building built in 1929, the Marriott Autograph Series hotel will offer a one-of-a-kind experience for guests that will change the way they perceive outstanding amenities and technological advancements for luxury accommodations. The hotel will boast unrivaled tech-forward features such as digital showers, Bluetooth mirrors, wallpaper televisions, and more. Having an integral role in this project, BHB is providing CMEP engineering services for the 105,600 square-foot renovation that consists of changing the office building into a historic, 16-story hotel with 164 guest rooms, a rooftop bar, and a high-end restaurant, while keeping the look and feel of the building’s original architecture and art-deco design from the early 20th century.
To reduce the size of the electrical infrastructure in the building, BHB is utilizing exceptions in the code made possible by maximizing the use of energy efficient equipment and technology. In addition, a battery storage system has been implemented to provide emergency power to the hotel in place of a typical diesel-fueled generator. BHB is working closely with code officials, the equipment manufacturer, and the owner for a UL labeled energy storage system that provides emergency power to the elevators, smoke exhaust fans, fire alarm system, and lighting in the building. The team has also been tasked with guiding the implementation of Power over Ethernet (PoE) lighting utilizing 8-port PoE network switches, intelligent PoE powered LED drivers, and high efficiency LED fixtures to replace the building’s existing lighting. The motorized rolling shades, OLED TV, and the mini refrigerator in each guestroom will also be powered by the PoE switch.
The mechanical scope of work includes plumbing, fire protection, and the replacement of the building’s traditional chilled and heating system with a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system. Because VRF doesn’t require as much space as a traditional unit, the original floor-to-ceiling heights and the ornate windows on the lobby level are being restored. By blending aspects of two separate centuries, The Sinclair is in a category of its own and will set precedents for not just boutique hotels, but the future of “intelligent buildings.” What was once a structure that lost its stylish look and feel, The Sinclair is now being restored to its original decadence with a modern twist that Fort Worth residents and visitors can enjoy.
Key People
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Richard J. Watters, PE
Richard J. Watters, PE
Principal | Senior Mechanical Engineer
Richard Watters came to BHB after working with a design-build contractor in the area for two years. As an active member of BHB’s leadership team, Richard manages some of the firm’s multiple long-term engineering projects, including healthcare, commercial, oil and gas, retail, and municipal. He is experienced in sustainable design, energy studies/audits, design-build, hospitality, data centers, critical environments, medical gas systems, and construction administration.
Richard has been named one of the Top 40 Engineers Under 40 in the country by Consulting-Specifying Engineer Magazine and one of the Top 20 Engineers Under 40 in our region by Engineer News-Record magazine.
In the office, his hands-on style has helped him successfully find solutions for clients and mentor young engineers. Outside of the office, Richard has been past president of the Fort Worth Chapter of ASHRAE and has been active with various student organizations as a guest speaker or project sponsor; he also travels back to Texas A&M to guest lecture and has sponsored projects for the construction science department at Texas A&M.
With his wife Yesenia, he enjoys being outside with their kids, traveling, working on multiple home improvement projects, and helping others. They have sponsored scholarships for children in El Salvador, his wife’s native country, who would otherwise not have access to advanced education. In addition to these, they also have four annual scholarships locally at TCU and UNT. Expanding on this desire to provide resources and forward momentum for everyone, Richard is also a founding board member of the Paul Schulte Foundation, a non-profit organization with a goal to empower, inspire, and facilitate individuals with disabilities.
Project Experience
Arlington Animal Services Center
Doss Heritage and Culture Center
Ott Cribbs Public Safety Center
Star-Telegram Building
Texas Wesleyan University Jack and Jo Willa Morton Fitness Center
Education
Texas A&M University:
Master’s Degree/2001/Mechanical Engineering
The University of Texas at El Paso:
Bachelor’s Degree/1997/Mechanical Engineering -
Gibran Michel, DBIA, LEED AP
Gibran Michel, DBIA, LEED AP
Senior Associate | Senior Mechanical Designer
Gibran Michel has been with BHB since 1996. A year after high school, he started with BHB as a drafter and absorbed as much information as he could concerning HVAC and plumbing design. Since that time, he has gone on to learn what he can about the other engineering tasks that goes into the construction of new buildings and the renovation of existing buildings. With this knowledge, he has been able to help his clients from the very start of on their projects. Including site selection, zoning changes, overall site utility advisement, building space planning, and many other tasks that are involved in this process.
During his design time with BHB, he has worked on everything from a 1,500 square-foot retail space all the way to a 500,000 square-foot distribution center for a major beer supplier. Projects have included schools/universities, churches, hospitals, retail, multi-family, high-rise buildings, warehouses, and everything in between.
After 20 years of design experience over thousands of projects, he began developing good relationships with clients that started pulling him away from the day-to-day design of their projects and turned him into the direct contact for the client. For BHB, Gibran become an overall project manager that was able to coordinate design efforts for all the engineering for his clients’ projects as well as a focal point within the company for projects that had difficulties during construction.
When he is not working, he likes to spend time with his wife, Molley, along with working out 4 to 5 times a week. His favorite place to vacation is the Caribbean with its’ warm weather and great beaches. You can also ask him about his own experiences handling home repairs, building a 200-foot-long railroad tie retaining wall or updating a 100+ year old cabin on his family property outside Lampasas, Texas.
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Rhiannon Jones, PE
Rhiannon Jones, PE
Associate | Senior Electrical Engineer
Rhiannon Jones has always wanted to be an engineer. In college, Rhiannon was given the opportunity to intern with a local utility company, which also awarded her a partial scholarship to study electrical engineering. During her internship, she was introduced to electrical power systems engineering and was instantly hooked.
After working several years in the utility industry and consulting engineering business, Rhiannon decided to leave the engineering industry and teach mathematics to help young, budding engineers get a good start in their careers. Not able to stay away, Rhiannon was ready to resume her engineering career after 13 years of teaching.
Rhiannon is a member of the Eta Kappa Nu National Electrical Engineering Honor Society and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. She is a member of the IEEE Power and Energy Society, Industry Applications Society, and the IEEE Women in Engineering group.
Rhiannon is a certified permaculture designer who has done humanitarian work on the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in North and South Dakota. She volunteers with a local non-profit youth advocacy organization as a community goodwill ambassador and a volunteer working with youth. She is also a community activist and organizer for human rights and is a frequent public speaker on human rights issues. When she’s not working or volunteering in the community, Rhiannon likes to read, cook, and spend time shopping with her daughter. She has recently taken up sewing and jewelry design as new hobbies.
Project Experience
Star-Telegram Building
Tarrant County Sub-Courthouse
The Sinclair
TCU Neeley School of Business
Education
University of Tulsa:
Bachelor’s Degree/1973/Electrical Engineering
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Trace Strevey, PE
Trace Strevey, PE
President | Senior Civil Engineer
Trace Strevey grew up around the construction industry and, although he always wanted to be a cowboy, building is in his blood. The majority of his 20+ year engineering career has been in the pursuit of diverse projects that are both challenging and rewarding.
His land development experience includes commercial, industrial, healthcare, and residential design, and his municipal engineering experience includes water distribution, wastewater system design, drainage studies, and roadway design. He has the proven ability to successfully coordinate with cities, counties, TxDOT, TCEQ, and other governing agencies for construction and environmental permits, zoning changes, and site planning approvals.
Project Experience
Cresson Crossroads Industrial Park
Park Hill Surgery Center
Presbyterian Night Shelter Morris Foundation Women & Children's Center
Rogers Road Pavilion
TCU Ed & Rae Schollmaier Arena
Education
Tarleton State University:
Bachelor’s Degree/1994/Agriculture
University of Texas at Arlington:
Bachelor’s Degree/1999/Civil Engineering