CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — There are plans to upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC, systems at the Art Museum of South Texas.
City leaders said the upgrades come as the systems are failing and outdated. It would be a $3.5 million project that could take years to complete.
The art museum has two HVAC systems, one in each building, which need to be replaced. The newer Legorreta Building's chiller failed, according to Corpus Christi City Manager Peter Zanoni.
"It's reached the end of its useful life," Zanoni said. "It's had several failures. In fact, it's offline right now. We have a temporary chiller."
Zanoni explained that the old connection to the American Bank Center, where it is a chilled water system, will have to be decoupled. The art museum will eventually have two new independent chillers. He said the city will also address HVAC systems at surrounding attractions over time.
"We have to do that to all the facilities around here that are on this loop system," Zanoni said. "It's an older, outdated loop system. So, the science museum, as well, and the Harbor Playhouse will be ones that we're going to decommission over the years. But, the art center will be the first."
The project will go to Corpus Christi City Council for approval this Tuesday. Zanoni said the Seawall Fund, which comes from sales tax revenue, would pay for it. He said those funds and the overall project were approved by the Corpus Christi Business and Job Development Corporation Type A Board.
"This area's going to be coming back to life," Zanoni said. "It's going to be a great destination with a lot of different things to do for families or individuals. There's multiple destinations that they can go to, and that's what we want. That's what families want."
Zanoni said the area near the art museum has been underutilized in recent years. He explained that that can change by revitalizing the Watergarden, and investing in local attractions that people can easily get around to.
"Somebody can park their vehicle and go to something at the Selena. They can spend time here. They can check out some of the art. They can spend time on the seawall. So, it's a great location. We're glad we're revitalizing it and bringing things back online," Zanoni said.
The estimated construction schedule begins in February 2025 and lasts for a year, which means the upgrades could come in early 2026.
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