Hallmark

Project Details

Elegance Restored at Houston’s Hallmark

Nestled near Houston's elite River Oaks neighborhood is the Hallmark, arguably one of the city's most elegant senior living communities. Many residents of River Oaks choose the Hallmark as their retirement home, and its discerning residents expect the best.

 Project consultant Joel Smith found the façade of the landmark building in need of a serious facelift. The original 1963 aluminum windows were single-paned and no longer performing. Water intrusion, noise pollution, humidity, dirt, rattling, and poor energy performance were taking their toll on resident comfort, even affecting valuable artwork and antiques. While interior plantation shutters offered some protection, a major upgrade was needed. Smith decided to call on WINCO's Texas architectural rep, Jim Krueger, a long-time trusted "hotel rooms" with the Hallmark facility itself as temporary quarters for residents to move into while their resident windows were replaced. "Managing the residents' moves is where the window advisor. "Jim immediately said that WINCO windows would be best suited for this high-end project," recalls Smith. 

WINCO designed dark bronze anodized, double insulated fixed and operable windows that closely matched the original sightlines of the building. WINCO's 1150 Series windows provided a dramatic aesthetic improvement to the brick façade, which also underwent a significant upgrade. WINCO also supplied its NC82 Terrace door on the project. "The transformation is stunning," says Krueger. 

Making the windows was easy, compared to installing them. Since the average tenant age is 92, Smith and the Hallmark facilities team designed artistry came in. We wanted to minimally impact their lives," says Smith. "Once the resident was relocated within the Hallmark, full focus was placed on replacing each private unit's windows, with great care to protect valuable furnishings and artwork. Due to restricted onsite storage space, scheduling and shipment of windows were carefully planned in coordination with the general contractor's swing stage drop sequence." 

Residents love their new windows and the hotel concept worked beautifully. "But one thing surprised us," laughs Smith. "Some residents, after being accustomed to the noise of the nearby freeways for years, said that it is now so quiet that they are having trouble falling asleep!"