KDW is proud to celebrate Circular Services San Antonio being named ENR Texas & Louisiana’s 2025 Best Project in the Specialty Construction category.

Circular Services, formerly known as Balcones Recycling, is the largest independent recycling company in the Southwest U.S. and a repeat KDW client. Their new San Antonio regional headquarters and material recovery facility represent another milestone in our partnership.

The facility processes mixed recyclables—including plastics, paper, and metals—through a system of conveyors and sorting equipment. These materials are baled and redistributed for use in other products.

In addition to its operational role, the facility includes a Class A office building, a community recycling drop-off center, and a second-floor viewing area with educational exhibits and windows overlooking the recycling process.

This recognition from Engineering News-Record (ENR) highlights the project’s excellence in specialty construction and KDW’s commitment to delivering high-performing, purpose-driven facilities.

See the full list of winners here. 

Our Chief Operating Officer, Rolf Scheffler, was recently featured in Stormwater Solutions discussing KDW's groundbreaking flow-through stormwater management system at Sprint Transport's new $40M facility in LaPorte, Texas.

The Challenge

Sprint Transport's 30-acre bulk liquid trailer storage and cleaning facility required extensive paved areas for their fleet of 6,000-7,000 gallon road barrel trailers. Traditional detention ponds would have consumed 5 acres of valuable industrial land near the Houston Ship Channel—a significant operational constraint.

KDW's Innovative Solution

Working with engineer Azim Shahparnia and Harris County Flood Control District, KDW developed a revolutionary flow-through stormwater system that eliminated the need for conventional detention. The solution routes all stormwater to the northeast corner of the property, where it discharges directly into an existing drainage ditch flowing to the bay. Key Environmental Features:

• Permanent Fabco Inlet Baskets providing industrial-grade filtration at all stormwater inlets
• Gate valve system capable of containing stormwater during 100-year flood events
• Complete containment infrastructure for all trailer storage zones
• Oil-water separators and specialized drainage in maintenance areas
• Integration of waste steam from adjacent facility for tank cleaning operations

Results and Impact

This first-of-its-kind approach in high-value Houston-area industrial development:

• Preserved 3-5 acres of prime operational space
• Exceeded environmental protection standards
• Set a new precedent for industrial stormwater management
• Generated millions in added functionality and long-term value

The project demonstrates KDW's commitment to innovative design-build solutions that balance operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and environmental stewardship. Since completion, the system has performed reliably through routine operations and extreme weather events, earning regulatory confidence and sparking interest from other developers facing similar space constraints. Read the full article in Stormwater Solutions.

Stephen F. Austin State University has officially unveiled the Pineywoods Dining Hall, the university’s first mass timber building and the first mass timber project in The University of Texas System. Built by KDW, the 20,000-square-foot dining facility introduces a new era of campus dining while highlighting the region’s deep connection to forestry and lumber.

The facility features two dining areas joined by an open-air walkway and patio. Exposed wooden beams, angled timber columns, and a raised roof define the structure, while large dark-trimmed windows evoke the look of tall trees. The brick exterior blends seamlessly with existing campus architecture.

“This project is really special for a lot of reasons,” said Dr. Neal Weaver, SFA President. “No other campus in the system has a building like this. And the most important part is it highlights what makes East Texas special and the unique opportunities we have as a region of our state to contribute to all of Texans and hopefully a new way of building buildings all across the country.”

Weaver described the dining hall as a symbol of perseverance, noting it was approved seven years ago and carefully shepherded by many, including Dr. Steve Westbrook, John Branch, and the late Dr. Baker Pattillo.

Kirksey Architecture designed the building, which showcases mass timber using southern yellow pine. The choice of material demonstrates sustainable building practices and supports local timber industries across Texas Forest Country.

“Nacogdoches and SFA were a natural fit for such an innovative project, given the region’s deep connection to the forestry and lumber industries,” said John Branch, associate vice president for facilities services and operations. “Beyond its beauty, this dining hall enriches students’ daily lives and serves as a living example of sustainability in practice.”