Collection Summary
Black, Sinclair, 1940-
Sinclair Black (1940-) Drawings and architectural records, Civic projects for the city of Austin
1984-1986
BLACK Accession number(s): 1982004, 1989007, 1990007
2,000 drawings 3 linear feet of architectural records 31 photographs
Alexander Architectural Archive,
The University of Texas at Austin.
Black (1940-) taught design courses at the University of Texas School of Architecture (1967-) and founded Austin architectural firm of Black, Atkinson, and Vernooy, specialists in individual building and urban design.
The collection includes Black, Atkinson and Vernooy's project files (3 linear feet) and 2,000 drawings representing projects (unbuilt) in Austin, Texas: Austin Municipal Office Complex (1984-1986), City Hall (1984-1986), Sesquicentennial Park on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol (1985-1986).
Materials are in English.
Biographical Sketch of Sinclair Black
Sinclair Black was born in Tyler, Texas in 1940 and grew up in San Antonio. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Architecture in 1962 from The University of Texas, and his masters degree from the University of California at Berkeley in 1970. He worked as a design architect for the Austin firm of Barnes, Landes, Goodman, and Youngblood before joining the University of Texas School of Architecture (UTSOA) faculty in 1967. In his design courses Black emphasized revitalization of center city areas for residential and pedestrian use and the role of the public and private sector in urban planning and development.
Black established his own architectural practice in Austin in 1967. The partnership of Black, Atkinson, and Vernooy (BAV) was founded in 1983. Both Black and Atkinson specialized in individual building and urban design. Vernooy, an engineer, specialized in building construction and construction administration. Projects completed by the firm include the Austin Nature Center, Administrative Headquarters for the Texas Commission for the Blind, and the Castellina Townhomes. AIA Award-winning designs include a National Award for the North Austin Center, State and Chapter Awards for the Cedar Street Courtyard and the McElhenny residence, and Chapter Awards for the Moore-Flack house and the Saunder's residence. The firm disbanded in 1987.
Black's interest in urban development is demonstrated in his writings and projects which include; studies of the San Antonio River Walk and the Austin Warehouse District, creating an Austin business district trolley, limiting the height of downtown buildings in Austin, and a plan for beautifying Congress Avenue north of the Texas State Capitol. In 1984, Black's architectural firm received the best of show
award for its design of the Austin Municipal Office Complex (MOC). The complex, on the shores of Town Lake, with City Hall as its centerpiece, included a hotel, shops, plazas, pedestrian tunnels, fountains and trees. The project's purpose was to create a pedestrian-oriented central hub for a revitalized downtown. Due to political and financial problems the project never progressed beyond the planning stage.
Black's civic activities in the Austin area earned him two Austin Community Foundation Awards in 1982. He was instrumental in establishing the Environmental Conservancy Group to acquire land for Wild Basin Park, and he served on the Environmental Resources Board. Black co-authored the book Austin Creeks, a comprehensive study of Austin's natural waterway systems. This project, originally funded by an NEA grant to the UTSOA, was sanctioned by the City of Austin and the National Bicentennial Commission as Austin's bicentennial gift to the nation. The creek plan called for protecting and enhancing existing waterways for preservation, recreational use and flood control. City and national funding for the project led to completion of the Shoal Creek Hike and Bike Trail, development of the Glenn Oaks Greenbelt on Boggy Creek, extension of the Stacy Creek Trail, and initiation of the redevelopment of Waller Creek.
Black served as Vice President of the Texas Society of Architects in 1986, and was named AIA Fellow in 1984.
Sources
Lake, Julie. “Through the Eyes of Sinclair Black.” Austin (July, 1984): p. 87-94.
Sinclair Black's Resume
-Kathy Martinson
Scope and Content of the collection
The project file for the Austin Municipal Office Complex (MOC) maintained by the architectural firm of Black, Atkinson, and Vernooy (BAV) consists of correspondence, printed material, clippings, handwritten notes, sketches, drawings, and photographs. Covering the period from 1984-1986, the files highlight the MOC design competition, BAV's winning design entry, Austin City Council actions, developer submissions, and design team proceedings.
The records document developer Watson-Casey Co.'s project-planning activities and project joint venture financing between Watson-Casey and the City of Austin. Phases of planning for the complex covered in the files include site planning, traffic considerations for both pedestrian and street traffic, archaeological site survey requirements and various technical concerns. Clippings chronicle BAV's design entry, council actions, project financing and the developer selection controversies.
The 2,000 drawings contained in the collection document both the Austin Municipal Office Complex and Sesquicentennial Park. The types of drawings represented include a vast range of design sketches, competition renderings, site development drawings and working drawings. Neither of these projects were built.
-Kathy Martinson
Other Finding Aids
Unpublished inventory in Archive.
References to works by or about Sinclair Black
“Austin Chapter AIA Awards for Design Excellence.” Texas Architect 27, no. 6 (November/December 1977): p. 68.
Black, Sinclair. Austin Creeks. City of Austin, 1978.
Black, Sinclair. “Dream Scheme for Austin Creeks.” Texas Architect 26, no. 6 (September/October 1976): p. 15-8.
Barna, Joel Warren and Tilley, Ray Don. “Design for Children: New Public Interest.” Texas Architect 39, no. 5 (September/October 1989): p. 24-35.
“Design Awards, Texas Architect.”
Texas Architect 29, no. 1 (January/February 1979): p. 54-5.
Lake, Julie. “Through the Eyes of Sinclair Black.” Austin (July 1984): p. 86-94.
“A New Old House.” Texas Architect 23, no. 5 (September/October 1973): p. 11-4.
“Prospects for Downtown Austin.” Texas Architect 31, no. 3 (May/June 1981): p. 36-45.
“Solar Heat for a House in the Hills.” Texas Architect 27, no. 3 (May/June 1977): p. 51.
“Texas Society of Architects Design Awards.” Texas Architect 33, no. 6 (November/December 1983): p. 72.
“Winners Announced in Austin City Hall Competition.” Texas Architect 34, no. 3 (May/June 1984): p. 24-6.
Ydoyaga, Ray. “Civic Identity in the Land of the Laid Back.” Texas Architect 35 (May/June 1985): p. 54, 58-9.
Index Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the University of Texas Online Catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
Persons:
Black, Sinclair, 1940- --Archives.
Black, Atkinson, and Vernooy.
Organizations:
Austin Municipal Office Complex.
Sesquicentennial Park (Austin, Tex.)
Texas State Capitol (Austin, Tex.)
Subjects:
Public buildings--Texas--Austin.
City planning--Texas--Austin.
Architecture--Texas--Austin.
Landscape architecture--Texas--Austin.
Document types:
City planning drawings.
Architectural drawings.
Competition drawings.
Landscape architecture drawings.
Presentation drawings.
Studies.
Working drawings.
Restrictions on Access
Access is by appointment only to any serious scholar. Rolled materials must be flattened before viewing. A three day advance notice is required to flatten rolled materials. Portions of this collection are not processed and may not be accessible.
Restrictions on Use
Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Texas as the owner of the collection and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder which must be obtained by the researcher. For more information please see the Alexander Architectural Archive's Use Policy.
Preferred Citation
Sinclair Black (1940-) Drawings and architectural records, 1984-1986, Civic projects for the City of Austin, the Alexander Architectural Archive, the General Libraries, the University of Texas at Austin
Processing Information
Lila Knight, 1989; other material by Kathy Martinson, March 1993.
Processing is not completed. Please see Archive's staff for more information.
Detailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Series A Austin Municipal Office Complex (MOC) Job Files
Series Abstract
The project files consists of correspondence, printed material, clippings, handwritten notes, sketches, drawings, and photographs.
1
1
Financial, Developmental, and Procedural Alternatives, prepared by the Department of Public Works, Austin
1
2
Market Analysis for Private Development, May 1984
1
3
Request for Proposals (RFP): draft and final, 1984
1
4
Design Competition - Black, Atkinson and Vernooy (BAV) Best of Show, includes publicity and site photos
1
5
Design Competition - call for entries and Roma response to questions
1
6
Jury Comments on BAV scheme
1
7
Developer competition - agenda and notes for presentation
1
8
Developer competition - staff evaluation and development proposals
1
9
Developer competition - questions and answers, firm resume for BAV, and article on Black from Austin magazine
1
10
RFP: Watson-Casey Co. submission
1
11
A.P. Keller Co. submission
1
12
Barnstone/Krasovect & Minch Inc. submission
2
1
Design manual draft and final - Roma Design Consultants
2
2
Schematic design - Sinclair's notes (includes color photographs)
2
3
Schematic design - technical information
2
4
Schematic design - traffic
2
5
Schematic design - correspondence (includes traffic, energy and day care information)
2
6
Schematic design - consultant's information and introductions (includes photographs)
2
7
Schematic design - drawings, photographs
3
1
Design team meetings - minutes and notes
3
2
Venturi, Rauch, Scott, and Brown - draft guidelines for The Rambla
3
3
Venturi, Rauch, Scott, and Brown - plan for Republic Square District
3
4
Request for Archaeological services and general correspondence
3
5
City Hall - transmittals
3
6
Design team meetings - minutes and notes
3
7
Project information and drawings
3
8
Deshazo, Starek and Tang - parking standards
3
9
Issues/Discussions Austin City Council through September 5, 1985 (includes clippings)
3
10
Recommendations from Jorge Carrasco, July 23, 1985
3
11
AIA Review Committee - letter of support, proposed circulation plan, and clipping
3
12
Roma - memo regarding outstanding design issues
3
13
1st/3rd St. - memo resolution for Sally Shipman
3
14
Questions and answers - myth and fact
3
15
Design alternatives/final work sessions
4
1
DAD [Debbie Darden] notes from meetings, public hearings and work sessions
4
2
Frank Cooksey letter and draft
4
3
DAD timeline of design decisions
4
4
Financial analysis/Watson-Casey Co.
4
5
Letter of support from Larry Speck
4
6
City of Austin financial projections
4
7
Sinclair Black/DAD written descriptions, political comment
4
8
Work session agenda
4
9
Subcommittee report
4
10
City Hall Contract - current fee estimates
4
11
Overall organization
4
12
BAV organization (includes notes and correspondence)
4
13
Contracts
4
14
DAD notes/contract agenda
4
15
City Hall Contract - calculation of fees
4
16
J.P. Schneider Building - history and historic structure information
4
17
Contract
4
18
City Hall Contract/Graves Dougherty
4
19
RFP: Watson-Casey Co./City Hall
4
20
City Hall Contract - meeting notes
4
21
City Hall Contract - sample contracts
5
1
City Hall - Sinclair Black's calendar
5
2
City Hall - estimates of billings
5
3
City Hall - schedule
5
4
City Hall Contract - scope of work and intent
5
5
City Hall Contract - draft contract package
5
6
City Hall - management
5
7
Cost, Fee, M. Hrs.
5
8
City Hall - work file Andy [Vernooy] (includes notes and project schedule)
5
9
City Hall - fee file fo fum [sic] (includes site diagrams)
5
10
City Hall Contract 2
5
11
City Hall Contract - Andy's file
5
12
City Hall Contract (continued)
6
1
Subcommittee Report
6
2
Post office L'Enfant Plaza - blueprints
6
3
Preliminary Central Cooling Plant Analysis
6
4
Acoustical consultants - Joiner, Pelton and Rose Inc.
6
5
Archaeological and Geotechnical surveys and notes of traffic control
6
6
Archaeology - includes drafts by Michael Guarino
6
7
Archaeological services - includes Texas antiquities and cultural property information
6
8
City Hall - codes check
6
9
Revised zoning regulations - City of Austin
6
10
Zoning requirements
6
11
Building energy program report
7
1
Master Utility Plan Report
7
2
Operation and Promotion Master Plan
7
3
Square footage notes
7
4
Project time line
7
5
City Hall trees (includes photographs and negatives)
7
6
City Hall - Watson-Casey Co. controversy
7
7
Design team outline
7
8
Design development issues
7
9
What is the MOC?
7
10
City Hall Questions and Answers - notes
7
11
Questions Regarding Concepts
7
12
Sally Shipman questions and answers - memo from Jorge Carrasco
7
13
City Hall decisions
7
14
City Hall - notes (includes drawings)
7
15
City Hall - minutes and notes
7
16
City Hall - transmittals
7
17
City Hall - correspondence to Watson-Casey Co.
7
18
MOC Financial Alternatives
7
19
City Council Agenda
7
20
Roma memorandum to Chuck Terry regarding MOC site
7
21
MOC Plaza Program for Watson-Casey Co.
7
22
Program of Vertical Transportation
7
23
Audit and Finance Committee Agenda
7
24
City Hall Building Program
7
25
City Hall contracts (includes notes and sketches)
7
26
Roma Development Prospectus
7
27
Oral Presentation - Michael Guarino
7
28
Letter to Ed Kennedy
7
29
MOC entry fee receipt
Series B Drawings
Series Abstract
The drawings series contains 2,000 drawings that document both the Austin Municipal Office Complex and Sesquicentennial Park. The types of drawings represented include a vast range of design sketches, competition renderings, site development drawings and working drawings. Neither of these projects were built. For more detailed information regarding these drawings, contact the archive staff.