 |
Houston Astrodome exterior
The interior clear-span dome spans 642 feet
|
Arts and Entertainment Venue Rehabilitation
|
|
LOCATION |
Houston, Texas |
|
DATE BUILT |
1962-65 |
|
DEVELOPER |
Astrodome Redevelopment Corporation |
|
ESTIMATED REHABILITATION COST |
Approximately $300 million |
PROJECT OVERVIEW
MacRostie Historic Advisors advised the Astrodome Redevelopment Corporation on the tax-advantaged conversion of the Astrodome into an all-in-one convention and resort hotel with additional entertainment activities. Built in 1962-65, the Houston Astrodome was a civil engineering marvel of its time. Although less than fifty years old, the Astrodome is of 'exceptional importance' as the first enclosed, air-conditioned sports stadium in the United States. It boasted the largest clear span dome at the time of its completion (642 feet), being the first dome constructed with a clear span of over 400 feet. Although seldom used today, the Astrodome served as home to Major League Baseball's Houston Astros, the National Football League's Houston Oilers (until 1996) and the University of Houston Cougars (until 1998), and is capable of accommodating over 60,000 spectators.
MacRostie Historic Advisors worked with the client and project team to develop a project scope that minimize the rehabilitation's impact on the exterior façade and preserved the special volume created by the dome. Proposed exterior work includes removal of the non-historic stair towers and ramps. At the interior, existing concourses are proposed to be reconfigured into hotel guest rooms with some interior features of the dome retained, such as portions of the existing seating. MacRostie Historic Advisors secured a preliminary approval for individual listing in the National Register of Historic Places for the building. Then, working closely with the project team to develop the scope of work compatible with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation, MacRostie staff prepared and submitted the required documentation for the federal historic tax credit program, and secured the necessary approvals from the State Historic Preservation agency (Texas Historical Commission) and the National Park Service.