Internationally Renowned Architects with Hometown Ties Selected to Design Frost Tower

SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Weston Urban and KDC have announced the selection of internationally renowned architecture firm, Pelli Clarke Pelli, to lead the design of the Frost Tower, Frost Bank's new headquarters and San Antonio's first downtown office tower in three decades.

The design of the approximately 400,000-square-foot office tower will be orchestrated by the architecture firm, based out of New Haven, Conn. In addition to its expertise in modern, iconic towers, the firm's leadership has strong local ties to the San Antonio community. Members of the leadership team Fred Clarke and Bill Butler will lead the project. Clarke, a senior principal of Pelli Clarke Pelli, was born in El Campo and is a graduate of the University of Texas, and Butler, a principal of  the firm, was born and raised in San Antonio and is a graduate of Rice University.

"We couldn't possibly be any more excited to announce the selection of Pelli Clarke Pelli to lead the design of the Frost Tower," said Weston Urban President Randy Smith. "Throughout the lengthy selection process, Fred and Bill have consistently wowed us with their firm's understanding that great design is, in large part, local design, all the while bringing their international experience to bear. Pairing with a firm of this caliber is representative of the entire team's ambition for the project."

"We are thrilled and honored to be chosen as architects for the new Frost Tower. This transformative project will extend the commercial district of Houston Street to the vibrant redevelopment of San Pedro Creek," said Senior Design Principal of Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects Fred Clarke. "As a Texas native, and with my business partner Bill Butler, a San Antonio native, we hope to embrace the Texan spirit, respond to the uniqueness of San Antonio and create a symbol for the city's tercentennial, as well as the one hundred fiftieth anniversary of Frost Bank."

Pelli Clarke Pelli has been a leader in environmentally sustainable design for over a decade. The firm's designs included sustainable strategies even before the U.S. Green Building Council established its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program and its work includes the country's first residential tower to achieve LEED Platinum, the program's highest rating. The firm has designed and developed towers across the world from the World Financial Center in New York to the Petronas Towers in Malaysia.

"Frost supports Weston Urban's selection of Pelli Clarke Pelli as the lead architect for the new Frost Tower," said Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. President Phil Green.  "We are thrilled to be keeping our headquarters downtown as the named tenant in an iconic building that will be designed by a world-renowned architecture firm." 

Texas-based KDC will partner with Weston Urban to serve as the development team for the tower project.

"KDC is very excited about the opportunity to work with Frost, Weston Urban and Pelli Clarke Pelli to develop a new headquarters that will not only symbolize the bank's dominant place in the market but also be a proud landmark for San Antonio," said KDC Executive Vice President Don Mills. 

Alamo Architects will serve as the local consulting architects. Irby Hightower, one of the founders of Alamo Architects and principal of the firm, was instrumental throughout the selection process, which featured ten firms, both domestic and international.

"Pelli Clarke Pelli draws inspiration from their surroundings to create iconic works of architecture, sometimes understated, sometimes bold, but always sensitive," said Alamo Architects Principal Irby Hightower.  "This is the right firm to help San Antonio realize the first downtown office tower of the twenty-first century."

Construction on the project is slated to begin in Fall 2016 and is estimated to be complete by 2018 or 2019.

About Weston Urban
Weston Urban has a singular focus: propelling authentic, unique space in urban San Antonio. Through investment, lending and development we provide San Antonians urban places worth calling home. Weston Urban is dedicated to collaborating with those who share the vision that great cities have great downtowns. For more information, visit www.westonurban.com.

Media Contact: Tanya Sammis, Sammis & Ochoa
O: 210.390.4284 C: 512.431.8940 E: [email protected]

SOURCE Weston Urban

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