Mosaic Condos Spur Renovation Renaissance in Med Center Area

Houston Business Journal, April 4, 2008

Placing itself on the forefront of an emerging high-rise trend in the area, Mosaic on Hermann Park was the first high-rise, multifamily project to be built in the Texas Medical Center in two decades at its November 2007 completion.

Located at 5928 Almeda Road, the $70 million building is a mile-and-a-half from Houston's Central Business District and one mile from the Medical Center and boasts the latest in health and entertainment features. The 30-story, 394-unit structure features 12,000 square feet of retail space on the first floor and an amenity deck with approximately 1 acre of space on the seventh floor.

The amenity deck includes a 73,000-gallon vanishing edge pool with a water wall, spa, fire pits and a stainless steel summer kitchen. The deck also includes an 8,000-square-foot clubroom with twin flat-panel high-definition monitors, billiards, a granite wet bar, catering kitchen, video game system and panoramic views of Hermann Park. The facilities' health spa offers FreeMotion strength equipment as well as a Yoga/Pilates studio and a group fitness room with a built-in sound system.

In addition to being a high-rise condo, Mosaic on Hermann Park is a mixed-use, residential/retail center. Developers say they believe it to be the cornerstone of the redevelopment of the South Almeda corridor.

In 2005 JE Dunn began pricing and preconstruction activities while removing an abandoned 45,000-square-foot nursing home from the build site. Much of the demolished nursing home was recycled, with concrete, steel and brick sorted, loaded and hauled to their respective recycling facilities. A sales office on the north end of the property had been built, and by the end of the year a contract had been worked out for the construction of the tower.

Several obstacles presented themselves during construction. A cemented sand strata 30 feet below the pile caps made piling installation for the build a slow process. The addition of another floor as the building was beginning, complicated the construction of the structure's foundation. The builder, however, worked closely with the design team to resolve the issue within only a few days, resulting in little impact to the project's schedule.

Mosaic on Hermann Park's units have been a hot item in Houston's real estate market. In the 13 months since the project has been available, 230 buyers have purchased units. Shortly before the building's November completion, a second tower on the same site was awarded to JE Dunn.

During construction of the high-rise, future construction professionals from the University of Houston, Texas A&M University, Prairie View A&M University and Louisiana State University were provided hard hat tours so they could see the project in action.

The project has led the way for similar revitalization efforts in the area, including several other major real estate projects. The high-rise has also significantly increased awareness of the area as being a highly desirable location, conveniently positioned near major employers in Downtown Houston as well as the Texas Medical Center.