Trinity Lutheran Church Expansion & Remodel
Fort Worth, Texas
Expertise
- Faith-Based
Services
- civil engineering
- mechanical / plumbing engineering
- electrical engineering
- landscape architecture
- structural engineering
- land surveying
Size
- 36,000 SF
Baird, Hampton & Brown (BHB) provided comprehensive land surveying, civil, mechanical, electrical, structural engineering, and landscape architecture services for the expansion and renovation of Trinity Lutheran Church, located in the Cultural District of Fort Worth. The project was meticulously designed to complement the church’s mid-century modern architecture while addressing the congregation’s evolving needs. The expansion includes a new entrance, a two-story addition housing office spaces, and the renovation of classrooms and restrooms in the original two-story building.
Originally designed by the esteemed architectural firm Fehr and Granger in the early 1950s, Trinity Lutheran Church is a notable example of mid-century architecture and holds historical significance. The church’s distinctive orange brick structure, with its unique triangular plan fanning southward, served as the focal point for the renovation. The new addition enhances the church’s functionality by creating a welcoming new entryway, adding office spaces, restrooms, classrooms, and a check-in area for the church’s full-time preschool. The design contrasts with the original architecture in terms of materials and colors, creating a harmonious blend of modernity and respect for the church’s legacy.
BHB engineers conducted an initial site investigation and identified that the existing electrical service was inadequate to support the proposed addition and renovations. In response, the electrical design included a new main service panel to back-feed the existing service, ensuring capacity to accommodate the additional loads. A surge protection device was also installed at the main panel to safeguard the church’s electronic equipment.
The engineering design addressed two major challenges. First, the building’s chiller was located within the footprint of the new addition. BHB’s design relocated the chiller outside of the construction area and reconnected it to the building’s piping system. Once the addition was completed, the chiller was moved to its permanent location on the roof and reconnected to the system.
The second challenge involved the building’s low floor-to-floor height. To overcome this limitation, BHB’s mechanical system design utilized Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) cassettes, providing individual temperature control for each room without requiring extensive metal ductwork. While this solution incurred a slightly higher construction cost, it offered greater flexibility and energy efficiency, aligning with the church’s long-term needs.
BHB’s landscape architecture team was responsible for the urban forestry and landscape design, with careful attention given to preserving several mature trees near the construction site. The project was subject to an urban forestry ordinance, which required planting a single oak tree to meet tree canopy requirements. Additional planting areas were created, incorporating a variety of shrubs, perennials, ornamental grasses, and groundcovers. Four small Redbud trees near the construction area were transplanted to avoid removal and preserve the site’s greenery, with careful attention to the potential challenges of successful transplanting.
The expansion also included various improvements to accessibility, security, fire safety, and overall modernization of the site and building systems. The project team worked to enhance the arrival experience for visitors and users of the church while supporting the congregation’s ongoing mission.
Key People
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Richard J. Watters, PE
Richard J. Watters, PE
Chief Operations Officer | 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 -
John W. (Bill) Baird, Jr., PE, RPLS
John W. (Bill) Baird, Jr., PE, RPLS
Founder | Chairman Emeritus | Senior Civil Engineer
John (Bill) Baird has over 50 years of active management, design, estimating, and coordination experience, and is still actively designing and managing projects. He has provided project management and design for many civil engineering projects for various client types, with expertise spanning municipal, industrial, commercial, educational, religious, and institutional projects. His design experience includes extensive site development; streets, roadways, and thoroughfares; bridge and culvert projects; flood control; storm water detention; water distribution and sewage collection; and water and sewage treatment plants.
Bill lives in Burleson with his wife Terresa and enjoys traveling, gardening and, most especially, spending time with his grandchildren.
Project Experience
Catholic Charities of Fort Worth
Fort Worth Country Day Lou and Nick Martin Campus Center
Fort Worth Country Day Sid W. Richardson Visual Arts Center
Granbury Dental Center
Granbury Resort Conference Center
Early Learning Center
Saint Patrick Cathedral Parish Hall
Texas Wesleyan University Rosedale Renaissance
Education
University of Texas at Arlington:
Bachelor’s Degree/1972/Civil Engineering -
Ronald Ishmael, PE, LEED AP
Ronald Ishmael, PE, LEED AP
Vice President | 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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Tom Kellogg, RLA
Tom Kellogg, RLA
Associate | Senior Landscape Architect
As a Landscape Architect, Tom Kellogg has experience working in a project management position for both multi-disciplinary firms and landscape architecture design firms. His project history includes a wide variety of types, including parks and recreation, commercial landscape design, streetscapes, multi-family developments, and multimodal recreation trails.
Living only a mile away from our Grapevine office, Tom discovered BHB while he was riding his bike and instantly wished he could work here. As it turned out, BHB was looking for a landscape architect at the time, and the rest is history.
Outside of work Tom enjoys bicycling, something he’s loved doing since he was a kid. Tom also enjoys camping, traveling, visiting museums, and playing video games with his teenage son, Colin.
Project Experience
Imperial Construction Office and Shop
Monterra Medical Campus
Park Hill Surgery Center
The Bowden: Event & Weddings
Education
University of Arkansas:
Bachelor’s Degree/1982/Landscape Architecture -
Erin Donahue, PE
Erin Donahue, PE
Project Manager | Structural Engineer
From a young age, Erin Donahue knew she wanted to work in a field that involved creativity. Growing up, she and her father would walk through new homes under construction, guessing the layout of each room—a hobby that sparked her interest in architecture and design. Though she initially considered a career in medicine, Erin quickly realized that her passion for math and science led her down a different path. She chose to pursue a degree in architecture at the University of Texas, which laid the foundation for her eventual transition into structural engineering.
Erin currently serves as a Project Manager in Structural Engineer, bringing her expertise to a wide range of construction projects. She finds great satisfaction in seeing a project evolve from initial concept to physical reality. For Erin, the most rewarding aspect of her work is watching designs shift from digital blueprints to tangible structures that enhance communities. Her role at BHB has allowed her to further hone her skills in project management, ensuring each project is executed with precision and efficiency.
When Erin isn’t immersed in engineering projects, she enjoys spending quality time with her family. Erin is a proud mom to her son and two beloved dogs. Outside of work, Erin finds relaxation and joy of the beach, wherever it may be. She is also fond of cooking and food, as her husband is a chef who inspires her with his culinary creations.