The Chamberlain | The Power of Place
A Vision for the Future
In 2019, Frazier Companies purchased the former H.E.B. headquarters building that sat vacant for more than 30 years. Little did the community know, a gem was about to be uncovered. The project leads—Derrick Frazier, Creative Director of The Chamberlain project, Bibiana Dykema, Architect & Interior Designer for the project, and Dr. Amanda Garcia, Branding and Wayfinding Designer—reflect on the making of The Chamberlain and The Beacon.
To be able to take a building in distress and bring it back to life, is a real joy. Working with a team and recognizing their talents and gifts is so much fun. —Bibiana Dykema, Dykema Architects
Derrick Frazier, Director of Frazier Companies, spearheaded the creative vision of the project from day one, “I cultivated a team of talented individuals to bring our creative vision to light. We knew the past, present and the future—I knew what needed to happen to deliver the product to the market.” The past includes a vibrant history rooted in meaning. The site of what is now The Chamberlain, is the original 1857 Corpus Christi Lighthouse location—a beacon for the Bay. In 1953 the Southern Minerals Corp. had a vision for a headquarters; the building was named SOMICO and remains in its original architectural facade today. From 1971 to 1985 H.E.B., a prolific Texas grocer, called the building its headquarters. Vacant and changing owners many times since 1985, it wasn’t until 2019 that new purpose was given to the building.
The dream team
“With so much rich history, the naming and design of the branding became almost second nature,” said Amanda Garcia, Creative Director and CEO of ArtFly Design, “our team worked hand-in-hand with Derrick from start to finish; this really was a team effort.” Frazier himself agrees that his favorite part of The Chamberlain was creating the marketing and brand package, “it was rich with history and vision. Also the interior design was extremely engaging and satisfying to see it come together.” Working closely with Dykema, the interiors honor the building’s original character while incorporating modern and functional furniture and fine art.
The three worked together over a very expedited one-year process to bring the building from plans to move-in ready. “Who do you want in your boat? This is something I always think about. Are we rowing the same direction? Are we all willing to bail out water together when things go wrong? This is what makes a great team,” Frazier said. A pandemic is not an ideal time to work on a multi-faceted design architecture and design project—but the team succeeded and exceeded even their expectations.
From maintaining yellow steel columns to intricate inlaid floor mosaics, the project has already garnered national attention. Winning 4 ADDY® Awards and competing in the National ADDY® Competition, the design details have not gone unnoticed. Frazier notes, “the love and respect you put into a project reflects in the project itself—that’s why this building is so special. We had a team of likeminded, creative visionaries all rowing in the same direction.”
