9-1-2010 ECO structural engineering provided for the Dallas Childrens Museum Solar Array. ECO has provided engineering for many large solar array projects including the Texas State Aquarium in Corpusi Christi, several Houston area high schools, and many large and small residential solar projects. Retrofit projects require a detailed review of the as-built structure and as-built structural plans and details before the solar array's structural connection systems can be designed and certified.
8/1/10 - The Seabrook Sailing Club nears completion.
A great view of the Kema Texas board walk from the deck on the Seabrook Sailing Club.
11/16/09 Gary Beck receives a 2009 Proud Partner Award at the 25th Annual Mayor's Proud Partner Luncheon. The award was one of 20 others presented by Mayor Bill White's wife Andrea White and Marathon Oil's Dan Sullenburger at the Hilton Galleria.
Wow - what an unexpected honor! And what great company with other award winners like the Mayor of Katy, Anheuser-Busch, Chevron, the Greenspoint Redevelopment Authority, the Bayou Preservation Association, the Houston City of Public Works.
Don't worry, we won't get a big head - our customer's would just not allow that!
But it is nice to learn that other's think that ECO's work in green affordable housing has been worthwhile. Thanks for noticing Houston! We'll work harder!
We will continue to help others provide affordable, energy efficient, strong, comfortable, durable homes and buildings for all of Texas.
Check out our latest news below and on then visit our "Designs & Plans" tab for more information.
4/13/10 - The ECO designed Seabrook Sailing Club project is not the only coastal project we are supporting, but it is certainly an interesting and fun project to watch being built. Here is our inspection photo sequence to follow its step by step construction status.
3/5/2010 Seabrook Sailing Club Update - The Main Level construction continues with the covered deck area columns, floor beams, and joists installed. The building SIP floor panels are also installed.
2/6/2010 Seabrook Sailing Club Update - The mid-deck and top level beams systems are added as the base structure begins to take shape.
1/26/2010 10:27 am Seabrook Sailing Club Update- The concrete foundation pour that start at 5 am nears an end with excellent results.
1/25/2010 Seabrook Sailing Club Update - Piling alignment and bracing bracing before the pour can start. Forty-five 13" single diameter driven treated pilings will support this two level 120 mph resistant commercial coastal structure.
A two level elevator shaft applies louvered cement panel blow out siding. The elevator will park at the top level during high wind and storm surge events. The elevator's foundation system uses epoxy coated rebar reinforcing.
1/21/2010 Seabrook Sailing Club Update - After forming beams and slab areas, epoxy coated rebar is installed. Twenty percent Flyash concrete was specified to better resist salt water chloride corrosion.
12/19/09 Seabrook Sailing Club Start of Construction -Piling number 45 is driven in as this deep piling based foundation nears its finish in early morning fog.
ECO's Seabrook Sailing Club was designed with AutoDesk Revit Structure and Revit MEP Building Information Modeling software. The SIP structure uses a piling and concrete foundation system with a mid level deck.
10/28/09 -The Seabrook Sailing Club site work begins. This classic coastal look project includes a strong energy efficient Structural Insulated Panel envelope. A gray & black waste water system is patterned after Moody Garden's system.
"ECO-IKE" is our response to a customer who lost a 28' wide x 80' long manufactured 'double-wide' home to Hurricane Ike. The destruction to the home was complete, but a robust slab remained.
The the owner wanted to reuse the existing slab for a new green structure to be built above the flood elevation. ECO-IKE is a 1870 sf 'double wide' size one story energy efficient home on a crawl space foundation.
99K House Finished!
The 99KHouse contest was sponsored by the City of Houston, the AIA, and the Rice Design Alliance. The nearly complete 99K house was the result of a team of designers, engineers, construction managers, tradesmen, organizations, benefactors, and the City of Houston.
ECO "Digs for Green" with Houston's Mayor Bill White 10/31/08 ECO's Gary Beck (2nd from right) participated in a green low income 99Khouse ground breaking ceremony with Mayor White (center). ECO was the engineer-of-record for the contest's winning 1250sf ORA-Hybrid of Seattle's great design.
American Institute of Architects - April 2009 - The APA Sponsored residential design focused seminar allowed Gary Beck to present "ELEVATING VALUE BY DESIGN" to a full house at AIA Houston headquarters.
The APA Sponsored residential energy focused seminar allowed Gary Beck to present "RESIDENTIAL LOW ENERGY DESIGN" to a full house in February in Houston. Due to popularity this seminar was presented to a 2nd full house on March 10th in Mobile AL.
Gary Beck presented "RESIDENTIAL LOW ENERGY DESIGN" again in Mobile Alabama. This presentation challenged residential designers to design differently. Three popular topics- (1) Design choices for low energy, (2) Building components and methods, and (3) When the HVAC quits - discussed the latest energy saving and energy production technologies. The presentation demonstrated how it is possible to achieve a 2kW-hrs per square foot on an annualized basis, while adding both Shelter-In-Place and an Onsite Power capability.
In Houston and Mobile, the APA'S Bob Clark made the opening presentation focused on "BUILD ENERGY EFFICIENT WALLS" which covered - Wood structural panels as smart vapor barriers - Energy-efficient benefits for the homeowner and builder - Five steps to an energy-efficient wall - Whole-house design is key to saving energy and money Here I am with the APA team at a Mobile Habitat for Humanity project. We all did good work but also ate too much good food in Mobile!
The APA is not sitting down to get any splinters! Their APA presentation is already on April 1st at AIA Houston with a visit to the 99K House. My presentation for this 1/2 day seminar is will dive into the nuts and bolts of flood & coastal region foundations. Elevating Value by Design (1) Design Choices for Lower Energy, (2) Elevated Foundation Methods, and (3) Value Engineering Choices We hope to see you there.
Other Green Presentations - I've presented at several regional conferences and building shows. My topics have included "Residential Low Energy Design", "An Engineer's Green Checklist" and "*Alternate Building Systems - Lessons Learned". Please contact ECO if you need a speaker. *"Alternate Building Systems - Lessons Learned from 20 Green Projects was last presented on Friday October 3rd 2008 at the 'Dallas Goes Green' regional ASCE engineering conference Dallas Goes Green ASCE. "Alternate Building Systems" was on Thursday July 31 in Houston Texas as part of Half Moon Seminar's Green Building for Architects, Engineers, and Contractors.
ORA &ECO WIN DESIGN CONTEST! 4/28/08 - ECO engineering helps ORA-Hybrid Architects of Seattle win Houston's coveted 250+ entry www.the99khouse.com green home design competition!
The Cinema - "Birth of a LEED Home" - Coming Soon to a Computer Near You
Ready for 'Shelter-In-Place' Design Now? I don't know about you, but Ike's 'only' CAT-2 experience has confirmed and strengthened our argument that every new home or building should be designed to windstorm resistance, plus 'shelter-in-place' , plus have a limited load onsite power capability. We can show any client how to do all these important items cost effectively. Need a hint? here is a list of suggested Shelter-In-Place Appliances (1920 Watts) to consider Room Air conditioner, Ceiling Fan, Table Fan, Freezer (stand-alone), Lights CF, Laptop, Television 20“ LCD Suggested Generators/ Portable-Gasoline : Craftsman 30250 (2500 Watts); Stationary-Natural Gas : Briggs&Stratton EM7 (5000 Watts)
9-1-2010 ECO structural engineering provided for the Dallas Childrens Museum Solar Array. ECO has provided engineering for many large solar array projects including the Texas State Aquarium in Corpusi Christi, several Houston area high schools, and many large and small residential solar projects. Retrofit projects require a detailed review of the as-built structure and as-built structural plans and details before the solar array's structural connection systems can be designed and certified.
8/1/10 - The Seabrook Sailing Club nears completion.
A great view of the Kema Texas board walk from the deck on the Seabrook Sailing Club.
11/16/09 Gary Beck receives a 2009 Proud Partner Award at the 25th Annual Mayor's Proud Partner Luncheon. The award was one of 20 others presented by Mayor Bill White's wife Andrea White and Marathon Oil's Dan Sullenburger at the Hilton Galleria.
Don't worry, we won't get a big head - our customer's would just not allow that! 
4/13/10 - The ECO designed Seabrook Sailing Club project is not the only coastal project we are supporting, but it is certainly an interesting and fun project to watch being built. Here is our inspection photo sequence to follow its step by step construction status.
3/5/2010 Seabrook Sailing Club Update - The Main Level construction continues with the covered deck area columns, floor beams, and joists installed. The building SIP floor panels are also installed.
2/6/2010 Seabrook Sailing Club Update - The mid-deck and top level beams systems are added as the base structure begins to take shape.
1/26/2010 10:27 am Seabrook Sailing Club Update- The concrete foundation pour that start at 5 am nears an end with excellent results. 
1/25/2010 Seabrook Sailing Club Update - Piling alignment and bracing bracing before the pour can start. Forty-five 13" single diameter driven treated pilings will support this two level 120 mph resistant commercial coastal structure. 
A two level elevator shaft applies louvered cement panel blow out siding. The elevator will park at the top level during high wind and storm surge events. The elevator's foundation system uses epoxy coated rebar reinforcing. 
1/21/2010 Seabrook Sailing Club Update - After forming beams and slab areas, epoxy coated rebar is installed. Twenty percent Flyash concrete was specified to better resist salt water chloride corrosion. 
12/19/09 Seabrook Sailing Club Start of Construction -Piling number 45 is driven in as this deep piling based foundation nears its finish in early morning fog.
ECO's Seabrook Sailing Club was designed with AutoDesk Revit Structure and Revit MEP Building Information Modeling software. The SIP structure uses a piling and concrete foundation system with a mid level deck. 
10/28/09 -The Seabrook Sailing Club site work begins. This classic coastal look project includes a strong energy efficient Structural Insulated Panel envelope. A gray & black waste water system is patterned after Moody Garden's system. 
"ECO-IKE" is our response to a customer who lost a 28' wide x 80' long manufactured 'double-wide' home to Hurricane Ike. The destruction to the home was complete, but a robust slab remained. 
The the owner wanted to reuse the existing slab for a new green structure to be built above the flood elevation. ECO-IKE is a 1870 sf 'double wide' size one story energy efficient home on a crawl space foundation. 
99K House Finished!
The 99KHouse contest was sponsored by the City of Houston, the AIA, and the Rice Design Alliance. The nearly complete 99K house was the result of a team of designers, engineers, construction managers, tradesmen, organizations, benefactors, and the City of Houston. 
ECO "Digs for Green" with Houston's Mayor Bill White 
American Institute of Architects - April 2009 - The APA Sponsored residential design focused seminar allowed Gary Beck to present "ELEVATING VALUE BY DESIGN" to a full house at AIA Houston headquarters. 
The APA Sponsored residential energy focused seminar allowed Gary Beck to present "RESIDENTIAL LOW ENERGY DESIGN" to a full house in February in Houston. 
Gary Beck presented "RESIDENTIAL LOW ENERGY DESIGN" again in Mobile Alabama. This presentation challenged residential designers to design differently. 
In Houston and Mobile, the APA'S Bob Clark made the opening presentation focused on "BUILD ENERGY EFFICIENT WALLS" which covered 
The APA is not sitting down to get any splinters! Their APA presentation is already on April 1st at AIA Houston with a visit to the 99K House. My presentation for this 1/2 day seminar is will dive into the nuts and bolts of flood & coastal region foundations. Elevating Value by Design
Other Green Presentations - I've presented at several regional conferences and building shows. My topics have included "Residential Low Energy Design", "An Engineer's Green Checklist" and "*Alternate Building Systems - Lessons Learned". Please contact ECO if you need a speaker. *"Alternate Building Systems - Lessons Learned from 20 Green Projects was last presented on Friday October 3rd 2008 at the 'Dallas Goes Green' regional ASCE engineering conference 
