Jackson and Ryan Architects is an internationally acclaimed architecture firm based in Houston, Texas, US; founded in 1986 by Guy Jackson along with Jefferey D. Ryan, working as the Principal architect for more than 34 years. Together they have produced some of the most iconic buildings and shaped the architecture of Texas. Believing in great service to the clients without continuing the same success formulae for design, they understand that every project is unique and special. Better said by the founder Guy Jackson “Each project is unique to its own program, site, budget and client preference”.
Having a portfolio of wide topologies from civic and religious to houses and offices, here are the best 15 works by the firm.
1. Looscan Branch Library
The building is a landmark for the city of Houston and its people who are welcomed among all ages, this two-level structure has a beautiful pitched roof and big glass panels on the external wall which allows broad daylight and a beautiful view of the outside and vice-versa. This is the first LEED-certified building in the city of Houston.
2. City of Southside Place City Hall Complex
A city hall in the heart of the suburban area of the city to serve and connect with the people and work as a gateway for interaction between administration and public, hence places between commercial and civic spaces, the building contains offices for the municipal including a court, police and fire department. The facade is having a visual mix of brickwork and stones with long windows to light up the hallways with daylight.
3. The Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter Chancery
Located on the upper west side of Houston, the church is divided into two floors to work as both public space on the first with reception area, entrance hall, assembly area and a courtyard which has an extension of a colonnade, the upper floors are for administrative and office use. Materials used in the construction are lime and mortar with gypsum precast panel reinforced with glass fiber on the roof so that the structure compliments the 30-year-old parish of Our Lady of Walsingham with which the church is integrated.
4. Strake Jesuit College Preparatory STEM Building
It is a three-story building the largest in the campus with the most modern equipment and facilities in the city of Houston, the building comprises of Science labs, computer and mathematics department with huge classrooms and lecture halls, big windows are provided for ample sunlight and broad hallways for the ease of movement with façade comprising of brickwork.
5. Children’s Museum of Houston
Completed in the year 1992 and open since then, this museum is a major attraction for the city of Houston as the museum is designed to focus on learning aspects in early childhood and organize exhibits such that it can be visually integrated with their mind, due to increasing footfall the museum was expanded and scaled up to double its size.
6. Rice University Reckling Park Baseball Stadium
With a sitting capacity of over 5000, it is one of the biggest baseball stadiums, with all amenities both administrative and public. The use of Romanesque and Byzantine style has been used to complement the overall style of the college with material such as brick in the façade with the addition of blue and white bricks.
7. Davis Residence
This minimalistic duplex penthouse was designed combining 2 units of a high rise, the design was based on the wish of the client to have a panoramic view to the Houston skyline thus sporting huge glass windows and more emphasis to be given on public areas such as living room and dining area.
8. Antigua Pavilion Restaurant
The restaurant is located in the Antigua, West Indies, the architecture style followed is the tradition West Indies comprising of long porches surrounded by beautiful landscape complimenting the retaining wall made up of stones native to the area, pitched roof made up of metal having proportional dormer windows giving it an exquisite look.
9. 1885 St. James Place
It is one of the most premier office spaces in the city of Houston with 14 floors with 6 levels of parking and nine floors for office area along with 2 big penthouses. The materials used are concrete as a structure with limestone at the exterior giving it a beautiful texture and long glass windows that provide light and insulation gives the building a modernist look.
10. Market Square Tower
This is a high-end luxury residential project located in downtown Houston alongside the street of Market Square park, the services and amenities that are offered come in diversity but the most outspoken feature is the projection of 8 feet that is provided at the front through which one can see the streets down below.
11. Houston SPCA
One of the most iconic projects of the firm and the country as they constructed one of the biggest animal shelters, with innovating it for more than 30 years; the shelter is made up of limestone concrete blocks and metal panels acting as wall and roof with wooden work of cedar; creating a calm environment for animals and visitors.
12. The Briar Club
The of the most premier club in Houston, the firm was called upon for the expansion of the club that was done in 3 phases to increase the number of participants and increase the ambiance of the place known for its pools and tennis courts emphasis was given in providing bigger pool and Locker rooms in the court area.
13. San Antonio Museum of Art
The art museum is recognized for its skywalk and arch windows along with the brickwork on the façade, the job was to create order and a program for the future development of improving the overall quality of the museum and reorganizing various administrative and public spaces.
14. St. Martin’s Episcopal Church
Located in the city of Houston, this church has been a recipient of many awards and honors, built with the gothic style of architecture which can be recognized with the big pointed arch windows built on a huge scale with 1200 seating church and 600 seating hall and a wedding chapel all interconnected as a whole with beautiful landscape.
15. Jane Cizik Garden Place
It is an affordable housing project made for women who are working towards social independence and are rehabilitating. The housing contains 87 single units with common spaces for living, dining, and exercising. Spread out in an area of 3 acres the housing is surrounded by lush green patches and parks that promote more footfalls.
