Near the bank of the Trinity River, Able Pump Station No. 3 is a flood control structure that protects the Dallas Central Business District. The LEED-certified pump station’s “outside-the-box” design presents a sculptural, bold gesture to a gritty high-traffic city corridor and growing recreation community.
Able Pump’s design intent centers on urban renewal—a revitalization of Dallas to transition to a waterfront city. It serves as flood control for 2,685 acres and has successfully lowered the 100-year floodplain elevation by 6.5 feet. Able’s extensive system includes nine interconnected stormwater retention ponds that integrate into a public greenbelt with hike-and-bike trails, promenades, fountains, bridges, and overlooks.
The atypical structure is a sleek, refined foil to its rugged landscape. The abstract, sculptural facade draws inspiration from its defining inner mechanism: the centrifugal volute pump. The outer shell’s layers of varying materials are peeled back and twisted up, revealing curved blades of glowing light and reflective metals that mirror the city skyline.
Client: City of Dallas
Size: 26,500 S.F.
Completion Date: 2018
Sustainability: LEED Silver Certification
