Bellville Turnverein Pavilion
Bellville Turnverein Pavilion After Restoration
The Honor Award for the rehabilitation of the Bellville Turnverein Pavilion in Bellville, Texas was presented at Preservation Texas’s Southeast Texas Regional Preservation Summit in Beaumont on November 16, 2023. “Texas Dance Halls” was included on Preservation Texas’s Most Endangered Places List in 2008 as a statewide endangered theme.
Presented every other year, Preservation Texas Honor Awards recognize outstanding efforts to restore, preserve, rehabilitate or reconstruct historic places that have been individually included on Preservation Texas's Most Endangered Places list or relate to a previous statewide thematic endangered listing. This year’s Honor Awards celebrate the remarkable efforts made by individuals, organizations, and communities to rehabilitate once imperiled historic places, breathing new life into cherished structures while honoring their historical significance and architectural integrity.
From left to right: David Bucek, Stern Bucek Architects; Steph McDougal, Texas Dance Hall Preservation; Charles John, Board of Directors, Preservation Texas
Located at 966 E Main Street, the Bellville Turnverein Pavillion was built in 1897. The building is significant for its association with Austin County's master builder, Joachim Hintz, and for its architecture as the first "round" dance hall constructed in Texas. This building form spread north and south along the Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railroad (SH 36). Austin County is now home to seven "round" halls, and more than a dozen others were built in Texas during the early 20th century.
During Hurricane Harvey in 2017, the roof of the Pavillion and flashing around the existing cupola allowed a substantial amount of water to penetrate the building causing damage in a number of areas. Several wooden building elements throughout the hall needed to be repaired or replaced, and the dance floor needed to be refinished. The building also had very old gas heaters which created a fire hazard. That same year, the Bellville Turnverein Pavilion Restoration Project 501(c)(3) nonprofit was formed by a group of citizens who recognized the value of the historic resource and the need for its continued use as a community gathering space. The local group successfully raised the funds necessary to execute the restoration project.
Before the restoration, the building was underutilized, in large part due to a lack of air conditioning. This project required a creative approach to introducing air conditioning into a previously unconditioned historic wood building in a manner that did not visually impact the character-defining interior space, particularly the exposed wood roof structure. This obstacle was overcome by placing HVAC variable refrigerant flow (VRF) units and ducting in the crawlspace below the floor. Conditioned air is distributed up into the dance area through supply air units located underneath the perimeter dance floor benches. The return air path was created by installing custom wood grilles at the front of the stage and utilizing open balloon wall framing between the original windows and doors. Other changes to the building included roof repairs (including structural repairs and bracing to improve windstorm/extreme weather resilience), repointing/leveling the original brick piers, bringing restrooms and the rear entrance into compliance with the Texas Accessibility Standards, and the removal of all gas service to the building. The former storage addition was removed and replaced with a smaller addition that was configured to allow two previously concealed historic windows to be re-exposed.
Ventilation ducts for the HVAC system were placed in the reconstructed perimeter seating platform.
The character-defining open roof wood structure is preserved.
The Bellville Turnverein Pavilion has been reestablished as the premier focal point and sense of pride for the community. The Bellville Turnverein is operated as a leasable event venue for weddings; family milestone celebrations; and company parties, conferences and banquets. The first event held in the renovated space was the well-attended Bellville Chamber of Commerce’s 100th Jubilee Celebration.
Project Manager, Grant writing and Fundraising: Tom Barron, Bellville Turnverein Pavilion Restoration Project
Grant Writing and Fundraising: Steph McDougal, Texas Dance Hall Preservation and McDoux Preservation LLC
Architects: David Bucek and Delaney Harris-Finch, Stern Bucek Architects, Inc.
Structural Engineer: Patrick Sparks, Sparks Engineering, Inc.
Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing: Greg Tinkler, Page Engineering
Project Contractor: David Bartay, Gaeke Construction
Historic Finishes Analysis: Jhonny Langer, Source Historical Services
Tax Credit Consultants: Anna Mod and Amanda Barry, Ryan Inc.
