For the new 100-acre Hill at Sims Park in Houston’s Sunnyside neighborhood, Renfrow+Co delivered one of our most complex pavilion projects to date. This $30 million initiative provides the neighborhood’s first new park in nearly 50 years, functioning as both a vital community green space and a high-capacity stormwater detention basin. Bringing this ambitious vision to life required the highest level of precision and the finest fabricators in Houston.
Translating Architectural Vision into Translated Design
Our involvement began early in the process by providing pre-construction services, which included mockups of perforated panels and lighting to help translate SWA’s design vision. Over a year later, after the public bidding process, we won the project and began the rigorous engineering and fabrication phases. The project’s centerpiece is the Brown Foundation Hilltop Pavilion, situated atop a 60-foot hill that offers stunning views of the downtown Houston skyline.
Engineering Complex Custom Metal Work
The scale of the pavilion’s structural steel was immense, featuring complex geometry and heavy pieces with abnormal lines. Delivering the metal fabrication Houston landmarks require was a major logistical challenge. The fabricated components were so large that they required a police escort for transport to the site.
Because the pavilion sits at the top of a hill, our engineering team had to meticulously rework the panel designs so the heavy components could be safely hoisted and moved into position. The two main column assemblies, which house the integrated lighting and cladding, had to be fabricated perfectly in our shop to ensure they fit together seamlessly during field assembly.
Delivering Pavilions for Community Parks
In addition to the hilltop structure, our team fabricated the Congressman Al Green Pavilion—a custom steel pavilion featuring a Tnemic painted finish, integrated lighting, and insect screens seamlessly installed beneath the woodwork of the pavilion.
Additional Details
We produced galvanized leaf edging and a custom stainless steel sink system to add creatively fabricated craftsmanship into the details of the property. Custom wayfinding signage was fabricated using detailed, custom metalwork to lay out the Houston skyline visible from the hilltop pavilion.
Building as much as possible in our shop, this project was a full team effort that required our metalworking, woodworking, engineering, and installation trades to come together flawlessly. Whether navigating heavy structural engineering or crafting precise finish details, Renfrow+Co delivers the custom metal work Houston relies on to build lasting community spaces.
Who: SWA – Architect
Halff – Architect
Landscape Art – Landscape Architect
City of Houston – Owner
What: Pavilions and Structures, Signage
Where: Hill at Sims Park | Houston, TX
How: Pre-construction Services, Engineering, Fabrication, Finishing, and Installation
