Wilhelmina’s Grove: Engineering a New Campus Pavilion

For the University of Houston’s Centennial Construction Project, Renfrow+Co teamed up with OJB and Whiting-Turner Construction to build the new Wilhelmina’s Grove amphitheater. The university’s $43 million initiative upgrades the campus core in preparation for its 100th anniversary. Located in the Arts District, the updated grove now features an amphitheater with a covered stage, raised seating, and a water feature. The university refused to cut corners on quality, requiring the finest materials and fabricators in Houston for the build.

Our team handled the preconstruction services, engineering, design-build, and fabrication on a condensed timeline. We built a carbon steel pavilion, which our shop called “the cowboy hat” due to the upward curve of the perimeter outriggers. Delivering this architectural metal work was complex, requiring us to convert architectural plans into actionable fabrication steps.

Renfrow estimator Amanda Sims explained the process: “The pavilion’s posts were the most complicated to plan. We took OJB’s drawings and turned them into clear details. It was challenging and outside of my comfort zone, but through hard work, not giving up, diligence, and using my experience so far, I was able to pull it off and get our team on the project.”

The pavilion’s columns feature a steel interior wrapped in custom-routed Ipe wood, which was precision-milled by hand in our shop. The structure also includes an integrated cantilevered tube-steel trellis, an Ipe ceiling soffit, a standing seam roof, and a premium Tnemec finish.

Delivering this project required our shop and field teams to execute precise fabrication, finishing, and installation. Following the completion of the pavilion, we received highly positive feedback from the university through the general contractor, delivering the exact metal fabrication that Houston expects from our team

Contact one of our translators today to see your vision come to life on your upcoming project.


Who: OJB, Whiting-Turner Construction, University of Houston
What: Pavilions and Structures
Where: University of Houston (Houston, TX)
How: Pre-construction, Engineering, Design Build, Fabrication, Finishing, and Installation

Renfrow+Co