Unbound Fort Worth Drop-In Center

Fort Worth, Texas

Expertise

  • Community

Services

  • mechanical / plumbing engineering
  • electrical engineering
  • structural engineering

Size

  • 3,800 SF

Unbound Fort Worth’s new drop-in center for trafficked youth will be located in the basement of the existing OneSafePlace building, and will be the first facility of its kind in Tarrant County. The space is designed to emulate the feel of “mom’s basement”, and will serve as a safe place for kids to sleep, shower, do laundry, and receive counseling.

Baird, Hampton & Brown is glad for the opportunity to work with VLK Architecture and donate mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and structural engineering design services to this project. The renovation of the existing 3,800 square-foot space in the basement includes resting areas, offices, restrooms, and a common area including a kitchenette.

The project began with a site visit to verify as-built conditions, followed by demolition to remove a restroom and walls. The electrical scope of work included verification, study, and replacement of light fixtures to ensure they are energy-efficient LED, and meet or exceed current energy code requirements. Also included are data connections for the offices, computer stations, and reception area, and lighting controls to comply with the current energy code. Mechanically, the pre-existing HVAC system remains with adjustments to serve new spaces, and verification that the system is properly serving each renovated area. Design work also included the addition of several toilets and laundry machines.

BHB’s structural team provided support details for new interior glass walls as well as a new opening cut in the existing vault wall. Recommendations for structural impacts of other elements, such as shower drains, were made to help the architect provide cost effective solutions.

Key People

  • Ronald Ishmael, PE, LEED AP