Texas-sized Opryland
Robert H. Gist ’80
Fall 2003
Building science and construction management
graduate Bob Gist of Little Elm, Texas, is in the midst of what he
calls the “most fun” project
of his career. The vice president of operations for Centex Construction
Co., Gist has executive oversight of the $330 million construction
of Gaylord Opryland Texas™ in Grapevine.
The Texas-themed resort has three atriums over four acres, a nine-story
oil derrick with an observation deck, a replica of the Alamo, and an
indoor river and waterfalls. Its 2.5-acre skylight, topped by a gold
glass Lone Star, has more than 4,000 panes of glass.
Gist has also worked on an array of other challenging Centex Construction
Co. projects including Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, a
$200 million hospital for the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, N.C., the
expansion of the CIA headquarters in Langley, Va., the Dr Pepper StarCenter
ice arenas in Dallas, and ammunition plants for the U.S. Army.
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