Transforming Community Through Infrastructure
40+ Years of Design
8 Primary Markets
Transit • Civic • Non-Profit • Aviation • Education • Housing • Commercial • Operations & Maintenance
Established in 1982 Architecture Driven by Community. HUB
DBE • MBE
METRO SBE
State & Municipal Certifications
TSA & AIA FIRM OF THE YEAR RDLR is Recognized as a 2023 Outstanding Diverse Organization by HBJ.
About RDLR
Founded in 1982, Rey de la Reza Architects, Inc. (RDLR) is recognized throughout Texas as a community-driven architectural firm providing design excellence and outstanding project management services in the Houston area.
With a 40-year history, the firm has been involved in the design of a variety of transit, commercial, educational, urban design, residential, and renovation projects and continues to provide exceptional service to public entities including: City of Houston, Fort Bend County, Houston Airport System, METRO, HCTRA, The Harris Center, numerous ISD’s, GSA, USPS and TxDOT. Our firm is certified MBE and Texas HUB.
RDLR believes in community driven architecture. Capital investments should respond to user needs as well as benefit the overall community. RDLR looks beyond project limits to seek opportunities to enhance the public realm and create places for communities. We believe that good design is not contingent upon the schedule or budget but rather the result of an inclusive design process that includes stakeholders, community leaders and design and construction professionals. Successful projects reflect
cultural influences and are contextually sensitive. They are sustainable developments which are cost effective to maintain and operate.
Strong design solutions are the result of a collaborative, interactive process led by the design team that involves all stakeholders including users, community residents, transit agencies and specialty consultants. We are well versed at techniques for generating ideas in various settings. Careful attention is given to achieving a balance between building, surroundings, landscape, and site-specific issues.
Through an inclusive process, we involve active participants, first in the programming sessions, and later in design workshops. This results in an accelerated design process, where concrete design ideas are generated respecting the programmatic and budgetary constraints. The process creates client/user consensus at an early stage in the project. Another benefit of this process is the creation of effective communications avenues among the participants.
TRANSIT
METRO Uptown Transit Center
METRO Uptown Transit BRT Stations
METRO El Dorado Transit Center
METRO Burnett Plaza Transit Center
METRO Ballpark Transit Center Study
METRO Westchase Transit Center
METRO Medical Center Transit Facility
METRO Fuqua Transit Center
METRO Mission Bend Transit Center
METRO Heights Transit Center
METRO Downtown Headquarters and Transit Center Study
METRO Downtown Street Improvements
METRO Solutions Southeast Corridor
METRO Solutions University Corridor
METRO Solutions Uptown Corridor
METRO Urban Design Guidelines
METRO Galen Link Structure
East End Regional Transit Center Study
TxDOT Green Ribbon Improvements
TxDOT Bayou Beacons
TXDOT Facility Assessments Statewide
Uvalde Transit Authority
Brazos Transit Authority Sterling Ridge Transit Center
VIA METRO Books Transit Center
TOLLWAY
HCTRA SH West Tollway: Fallbrook & Gessner Exit Ramp Structures
HCTRA SH Northeast Tollway: Main Lane & Exit Ramp Structures
HCTRA SH Northeast Tollway: EZ Tag Store
HCTRA Tomball Tollway: Main Lane & Exit Ramp Structures
HCTRA SH South Tollway: South & Southeast Exit Ramp Structures
HCTRA Hardy Toll Road: Main Lane and Exit Ramp Structures
HCTRA SH West Tollway: South, Central and North Plaza Structures
HCtRA Hardy Toll Road Downtown Connector
MAINTENANCE
City of Houston Fleet Services – Maintenance Building
Fort Bend Transit Center
LCISD Transportation and Data Center
METRO Maintenance of Way Facility
AVIATION
IAH Terminal A/B Pedestrian Connectors (w/ HNTB)
IAH Terminal A/B Exterior Renovations (w/ Gensler)
IAH Terminal A Secure Bridge Connector & Automatic People Mover (APM) III (w/HOK and Leigh + Elliot)
IAH Automatic People Mover (APM) II & Terminal D/FIS Building Station (w/Leigh + Elliot)
IAH Terminal A Door Replacement & Vestibule Exp.
IAH Terminal A Departures Level Starbucks Kiosk Removal
IAH Terminal A Gate A20 Modifications
IAH Terminal B Flight Station 8 (SE) Bus Station (now demolished)
IAH Terminal B Parking Garage Renovation & Repair
IAH Terminal C Garage Expansion
IAH Terminal C South Concourse Bus Station
IAH Terminal C North Concourse Bus Station (w/ Lea+Elliott)
IAH Terminal D Gate 6, 8, & 10 PCAir Replacement
IAH Terminal D Restroom Renovations
IAH Mickey Leland International Terminal D
IAH Inter-Terminal Train (ITT) Tunnel Repairs
IAH Strategic Plan (w/ Ricondo & Associates)
Development of Initial HAS Civic Art Program
IAH Emirate Airlines (w/HNTB)
IAH Emirate Airlines Ticketing Counters
IAH Master Plan 2035 (w/ LeighFisher)
IAH Federal Inspection Services (FIS) Reno. and Expansion (w/ HOK)
IAH Checked Baggage Inspection System (CBIS) (w/ Fentress)
Hobby Airport Restroom Renovations
Hobby Airport Terminal A - Harmony in the Air Performance Platform
HAS Eco Park Canopy (w/Othon)
STREETSCAPE + URBAN DESIGN
UH Downtown Campus Development
East End Street Enhancements
METRO Downtown Street Improvements
Allen’s Landing Improvements- Bayou Connectors
Cotswold
TAMU Wellborn Underpass
TXDOT US 59 Bridges
TxDOT Green Ribbon Improvements
TxDOT Bayou Beacons
Transforming Community Through Infrastructure
Strong communities are built on quality infrastructure. Urban design, architecture, art, and landscaping are interwoven infrastructural elements that create lasting impacts on communities. From the macro scale of interstate highways, toll roads, roadways, and bridges to the micro scale of sidewalks and bus stops, all infrastructure projects are opportunities to enhance the built environment, reflect community character and embrace universal accessibility.
Transit developments are especially transformative. Safe and accessible access to transit increases connectivity between residents, jobs, health care, schools, and businesses. Our team focuses on increased multimodal and interconnective transit solutions that serve as catalysts for economic, social, and environmental change, resulting in improved quality of life.
Contextually Influenced LRT
METRO LRT STATION PROTOTYPES & SOUTHEAST CORRIDOR IMPLEMENTATION
Houston, Texas
The design solutions seek to encourage transit-oriented development as well as create opportunities for a pedestrian friendly environment with a focus on sustainable practices and art enhancements to encourage use of public transit. Although the station designs are consistent, the design solution contains elements of variability to incorporate the contextual influences of the diverse communities throughout the city.
Innovative BRT Transformation METRORAPID
Houston, Texas
UNIVERSITY CORRIDOR
LAYOUT
BOARDING ALIGHTING ZONE
PLATFORM AMENITY ZONE
SEATING/WAITING ZONE
WAYFINDING DOUBLE LOAD PLATFORM
In collaboration, RDLR Architects and AECOM are spearheading a groundbreaking project to establish a 25.3-mile bus rapid transit (BRT) route in Houston. With dedicated lanes, 43 stations, and innovative features like level boarding and off-board fare collection, the BRT line, a key element of the METRONext Moving Forward Plan, targets enhanced travel efficiency and schedule reliability along the congested University Corridor.
Universal BRT Accessibility
METRORAPID UPTOWN BRT TRANSIT STATIONS
Houston, Texas
The open and transparent station design allows for a standardized set of parts while accommodating site variations without impacting the dimensions of the structure or impacting universal accessibility. Level boarding of the vehicles speed up passenger loading and unloading while avoiding the space constraints that boarding ramps would impose.
Rapid Transit Connection
IAH
AUTOMATIC PEOPLE MOVER (APM) II
Houston, Texas
The APM facility, at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, is designed to provide airport passengers rapid transit connection to all of the airport terminal buildings. The building was designed to be a visual iconic element that welcomes visitors in a dynamic way, as they drive directly by it and under it.
Future-Ready Transportation
METRO URBAN DESIGN STANDARDS
Houston, Texas
Houston’s METRO is gearing up for a population of 10 million by 2040. They’re investing in safer, efficient transportation with 40 projects spanning 500 miles via METRONext. The Transit Urban Design Manual is guiding these efforts, focusing on user experience, regional values, and sustainable growth.
Redefining Mobility
METRO WESTPARK/LOWER UPTOWN TRANSIT CENTER
Houston, Texas
The new Westpark / Lower Uptown Transit Center facility is unique among METRO’s transit facilities in that it vertically integrates multiple transit platforms and bus typologies with public parking in a three-level structure.
Bus-to-Rail Transfers
METRO BURNETT PLAZA TRANSIT CENTER
Houston, Texas
The urban site provides connectivity between the elevated light rail line which flanks its western side and the adjacent Near-northside residential and commercial neighborhoods to its north. Located on a brownfield site, the project includes an architecturally unique, six bus berth canopy, providing shelter to transit patrons and promoting easy bus-to-rail transfers.
Secure Passenger Transfer
IAH TERMINAL A SECURE BRIDGE CONNECTOR & AUTOMATIC PEOPLE MOVER (APM) III
Houston, Texas
The need to provide secure passenger transfer between all IAH terminals prompted the expansion the Automated People Mover (APM) to serve Terminal A. The APM and secure sky bridge connect the north and south concourses in Terminal A and provides a secure corridor to allow passengers a more direct path for connecting flights.
Multi-Modal Movement
METRO TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER
Houston, Texas
AWARDS
AIA Houston Design Award - Architectural Merit
The facility links Park & Ride locations throughout the southwest and southeast areas of Houston, as well as local bus routes and hike and bike trails, to the Main Street Light Rail Corridor. The facility’s image is about movement in travel, light, technology and a sense of place in the newly created urbanity of the Texas Medical Center District.
Transportation Link
TEXAS A&M WELLBORN UNDERPASS
Houston, Texas
AWARDS
The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC); Silver Award Transportation
The Wellborn Road Grade Separation project establishes a transportation link for cars, buses, pedestrians and cyclists between the East and West Campuses of TAMU at College Station. To improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists and provide an inviting and safe environment, expressly designated passageways have been created beneath Wellborn Road and the railroad tracks.
Enhancing Mobility and Resilience
HARDY
TOLL ROAD DOWNTOWN CONNECTOR
Houston, Texas
The Hardy Downtown Connector project extends the Hardy Toll Road, prioritizing better travel, flood control, and community engagement. In collaboration with the Harris County Toll Road Authority, it enhances mobility, connects schools, workplaces, and healthcare facilities, while flood measures and community involvement underscore holistic development.
Gateway Connection
TXDOT US 59 BRIDGES
Houston, Texas
AWARDS
Texas Construction/ McGraw Hill Best of 2003 - Awards of Excellence; National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA) Prize Bridge Award; Community Award - Museum District Business Alliance
Serving both pedestrian and vehicular traffic, the bridges over US-59 connect neighborhoods on either side of the interstate highway. Designed as part of TxDOT’s aesthetic enhancement program, the bridges serve as “Gateways to Houston.”
Iconic Structural Impact
HCTRA BW8 & SH249 TOLL GANTRY DESIGN
Houston, Texas
AWARDS
2011 Texas Society of Architects Design Award
The Main Lane Plaza structure is purposefully iconic to announce at a distance, by day or night, the toll monitoring gateway. Although identifiable, it is visually open and transparent so as not to suggest that drivers need to stop or slow down at its crossing.
