James Driver All-Inclusive Park
Location:
Houston, TX
Services:
MEP design for all park components, food trucks, walking trails, sport lighting, and pavilion design.
Project Scope
James Driver Inclusive Park is a 29-acre community space in Houston, TX, designed to offer recreational opportunities for individuals of all physical abilities. AOS Engineering joined the project team to help realize Commissioner Adrian Garcia’s vision of setting a new benchmark for parks across Harris County. Rather than focusing on simple upgrades, the goal was to create a space where everyone could play and make memories together, regardless of their abilities. The park features two sports fields, including equipment for beep baseball for the visually impaired, a grand lawn for community events, a pavilion with restrooms and changing areas for both children and adults, a water play area with a splash pad, and playground equipment designed with a variety of textures to encourage inclusive play for all.
Services
Mechanical Design:
While a majority of the park is open air, the pavilion provides a place to escape the Texas heat. The pavilion is equipped with air conditioned areas and restrooms, as well as ventilated seats under the pavilion served by overhead fans.
Electrical Design:
AOS Engineering worked with the utility company to establish a new electrical service tailored to the park’s power requirements. Enhancing site lighting was a key focus to ensure the safety and comfort of visitors. Pole lighting was strategically placed along the park’s entire walkway system, while additional lighting was installed for the sports fields, pavilion, and food truck area. Power was also provided for equipment within the pavilion, as well as the splash pad and food truck operations, ensuring reliable electrical infrastructure throughout the park.
Plumbing Design:
The plumbing design prioritized sustainability by incorporating a rainwater collection system, promoting efficient water use throughout the park for irrigation. Domestic water was provided to the splash pad, water fountains throughout the park, restrooms in the pavilion, and yard hydrants conviently located near food truck areas.
Challenges and Innovations
1 Award
Houston’s most compelling and innovative real estate projects were recognized by the Houston District Council of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) at the 16th annual Development of Distinction Awards presented by Wilson, Cribbs + Goren. ULI recognizes developments and public open spaces that exemplify best practices in design, construction, economic viability, healthy places, marketing, and management. The program is modeled after the national Urban Land Institute Global Awards for Excellence. James Driver Park won the 2023 ULI Development Award in the Open Space category.
29 acres
The park located in northeast Houston along US Highway 59 and is home to the newest premier green space in the region
Client Testimonial
Landscape Architect: Tara Klein, PLA; Four
One Landscape Architecture – Architect: Joe Meppelink, Metalab LLC
Project Timeline
Ready to Elevate Your Project?
Reach out to our team today to discuss your consulting needs or request a personalized quote. Let’s collaborate to bring your vision to life with precision and expertise.
Frequently Asked Questions
MEP stands for Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing, which collectively encompass the systems responsible for the functionality and comfort of buildings.
Absolutely! AOS Engineering maintains extensive connections with both contractors and architectural firms, allowing us to seamlessly match you with the ideal partners for your specific design and construction needs. Whether your project requires innovative architectural solutions or expert construction services, we ensure you’re connected with the best team to bring your vision to life.
AOS Engineering is dedicated to delivering exceptional service by maintaining open communication and responding swiftly to client needs. We prioritize cost-conscious design solutions while ensuring that every survey is thorough and accurate. Our team is adept at meeting accelerated deadlines without compromising quality, making us a trusted partner for projects of any scale.
Yes, we can provide references from top construction managers, brokers, contractors, and architects who have trusted us with their projects. Our extensive network allows us to connect you with highly respected professionals, ensuring you have the best resources and expertise for your project’s success.
Meet Our Experts
Shane Arrant
Partner | CMO
Shane Arrant is one of the founding partners of AOS and has over 30 years of industry experience, specializing in mechanical design. He has designed and managed a wide variety of projects, including tenant finish out, industrial, retail, restaurant, medical office, and data centers.
As Chief Marketing Officer, Shane is responsible for the overall business direction and strategy for the company. His goal is to provide engineering services that are accurate, responsive, and reliable while also being cost effective.
Notable Clients
▪︎ Denbury
▪︎ Motorola
▪︎ Yahoo!
▪︎ Tektronix
Trent Owen
Partner | CFO
Trent Owen is one of the founding partners of AOS. He has over 30 years of industry experience, specializing in electrical design. Trent has designed and managed a wide variety of projects, and his areas of expertise include UPS/Generator backup systems, industrial distribution equipment, lighting design, and DC power distribution.
As Chief Financial Officer, Trent is responsible for managing the financial actions of the company while also providing continued direction and support to the electrical design team. He also participates in strategic corporate initiatives.
Notable Clients
▪︎ Google
▪︎ Tektronix
▪︎ Time Warner Cable
▪︎ KPMG
Gregory Speer, P.E.
Partner | COO
Greg Speer is one of the founding partners of AOS and has over 25 years of industry experience. Greg has designed and managed a wide variety of projects, including healthcare, data centers, hotels, entertainment venues, multifamily, industrial, and retail/restaurants.
As Chief Operating Officer, Greg is responsible for overseeing all design and engineering services provided by the production team. He also provides strategic vision and direction for the company. Greg earned his Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Architectural Engineering from Kansas State University.
Notable Clients
▪︎ CareSpot Urgent Care
▪︎ Behavioral Innovations
▪︎ Google
▪︎ Top Golf
Brian Gast, P.E.
Principal, Dallas Office
With over 25 years of industry experience, Brian serves as Principal of the AOS Dallas office. In this role he oversees multiple projects simultaneously and manages a multi-disciplined engineering team. He has been involved with a wide variety of project types including commercial interiors, retail/restaurants, industrial/manufacturing, and education.
He earned his Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering from Kansas State University.
Areas of Expertise
▪︎ Commercial Interiors
▪︎ Retail/Restaurants
▪︎ Industrial/Manufacturing
▪︎ Education
Ross McFarland, P.E.
Principal, Fort Worth Office
With over over 25 years of industry experience, Ross serves as Principal of the AOS Fort Worth office. In this role he oversees multiple projects simultaneously and manages a multi-disciplined engineering team. Ross has been involved with a wide variety of project types including healthcare, manufacturing, multifamily, and education.
He earned his Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering at the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
Areas of Expertise
▪︎ Healthcare
▪︎ Retail/Restaurants
▪︎ Manufacturing
▪︎ Education
▪︎ Multifamily
Ronnie D. Fender
Principal, Houston Office
With over 30 years of industry experience, Ronnie serves as Principal of the AOS Houston office. In this role he oversees multiple projects simultaneously and manages a multi-disciplined engineering team. Ronnie has been involved with a wide variety of project types including healthcare, multifamily, and industrial/manufacturing.
As an AIA Continuing Education presenter, Ronnie coordinates and leads AOS’ Lunch and Learn program to ensure team members and industry partners are trained in current requirements and practices.
Certifications
▪︎ AIA Continuing Education Services Provider/Presenter
▪︎ Fitwel Ambassador
Areas of Expertise
▪︎ Medical
▪︎ Assisted Living
▪︎ Industrial
▪︎ Multifamily
Brittany Reczko
Director of Business Development
Brittany Reczko is a seasoned Business Development Professional with over a decade of experience in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (A/E/C) industry. She is known for her ability to drive significant revenue growth, forge strategic partnerships, and lead high-impact projects that span multiple industries.
Brittany possesses a keen eye for identifying and capitalizing on market opportunities, alongside a proven track record of developing and executing successful growth strategies. Her leadership experience extends across various roles, including business development, estimating, marketing coordination, and sales.
With a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and a Minor in Marketing from the University of North Texas, Brittany combines her academic background with real-world expertise to deliver exceptional results for her clients and partners. Her commitment to fostering strong relationships and delivering value is at the core of her professional approach.