“The Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District embodies the heritage of Texas’s livestock industry and inspired the design for this 170-key SpringHill Suites Stockyard Hotel,” said Andres Rubio, architect/principal, Niles Bolton Associates of Atlanta. “The completed project, which replaces a Well Fargo bank, honors that history by celebrating traditional elements of the old buildings in the surrounding area while seamlessly mixing in modern amenities and technologies throughout.”
A soaring cowboy mural was commissioned for the SpringHill Suites entrance wall to serve as a focal point for the historic-inspired building. Every component of the customized build was carefully selected for authenticity and quality.
“The design was influenced by aesthetic brick patterns and colors commonly found in the nearby historic Fort Worth Stockyards,” Rubio said. “Painted murals over brick were noted as a re-occurring element in the area and led to the design team commissioning a local artist, Dylan Kennedy, to create a 50-ft. mural on the building’s south-facing facade. The mural ‘Spirit’ depicts a cowboy portrait that captures the moment of the weary hero’s return from weeks of riding and making his final stop at the Fort Worth hub. Mosaic tiles were utilized in the interior double-height pre-function space to bring another culturally appropriate element into the design.”
Echelon’s thinner, lightweight product helped with construction material costs and labor, crucial for a large-scale endeavor like the SpringHill Suites. The all-in-one process began with installation of the framework of pocketed pre-molded EPS insulation panels that attached directly to the structure’s framing with stainless steel anchors and fasteners. Each panel was designed with integrated drainage channels on the front and back to eliminate moisture. The brick masonry units allowed for the genuine look of brick without requiring the structural steel of a conventional masonry system. Available in several grays, beiges and reds, the palette offered nuanced shades that allowed for pattern variations.
“The building facade utilized Echelon Masonry’s EnduraMax brick system to improve energy efficiency, acoustical performance, accelerate construction and reduce overall building loads. For the pumped mortar, Amerimix pre-blended mortar was chosen. The mortar was custom-mixed for the EnduraMax job,” Rubio explained.
Due to the learning curve expected with any innovative product, the Echelon technical team offered guidance during the early days of the project.
“All efforts were made to preserve the historic ambiance of the Fort Worth Stockyards district,” Rubio said. “The durability and the versatility were particularly important because of the high standards of the design. These factors lead to the choosing of the EnduraMax Wall System which allowed the brick facade of SpringHill Suites to blend in with the authentic feel of the Stockyard area. The system was flexible enough to allow for custom feature elements that were inspired by both the Mission and Spanish Colonial styles of architecture.”
Offering a bird’s eye view of the Stockyard activities and downtown Fort Worth, the SpringHill Suites rooftop was the last component completed and has already drawn scores of visitors. Upon opening the hotel to patrons and the public, the rooftop open-air tapas bar has operated at full capacity with guests gathering for food, drinks and entertainment with social distancing guidelines in place.
“The design pulled mostly from traditional architectural styles but used modern construction technologies to offer a cost-effective way to accomplish the desired character,” Rubio said. “While the exterior pulled inspiration from nearby historic elements, the interior offers modern amenities above and beyond what visitors would typically expect from a SpringHill Suites.”
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