dwg.

Springdale Green is home to a vibrant meadow system designed to nurture a diverse range of pollinators — native bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, and even bats. While the honeybee hives are a great connection for tenants, the real ecological impact comes from the carefully selected native plants and grasses that sustain these species. Key plants that attract pollinators include: ? Black-eyed Susan ? Purple Coneflower ? American Basketflower ? Lemon Mint ? Butterfly Weed ? Partridge Pea ? Prairie Verbena Alongside these flowers, native grasses like Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, Eastern Gammagrass, and Switchgrass provide essential habitat for ground-nesting bees and other beneficial insects, while also helping to prevent soil erosion. By fostering this diversity, Springdale Green strengthens the local ecosystem, supporting pollination, biodiversity, and environmental resilience.

???Congratulations to dwg. on winning the 2024 ULI Austin Impact Award for Best Public Space! ???This award recognizes a completed project that provides the public with enhanced civic, open, or public space access or experiences. ?? Best Public Space Award: St. John Encampment Commons https://lnkd.in/g7k5HRUE? This innovative urban park at ACC Highland stands as a beacon of environmental responsibility, historical preservation, and social equity. The transformation of this space has truly enhanced the community and set a new standard for public space design in Austin. We’re proud to collaborate with @ dwg. and grateful for their contributions to making Austin even more beautiful! #ImpactAwards #DesignAustin

Discover how WGI's civil engineers worked alongside esteemed firms to transform an asphalt parking lot into a vibrant urban ?? park at Austin Community College’s Highland Campus in our latest blog: St. John’s Encampment Commons Park Named Best Public Space by ULI Austin! This collaborative triumph honors the rich history of the site while serving the community’s present and future needs. So, dive into the innovative design and solutions that made this transformation possible, creating a dynamic space for education, gathering, and reflection. Learn More ?? https://hubs.li/Q02TJTDP0

Originally built in the 1930s, the Chalmers Courts public housing complex was in desperate need of updating to meet current building and living standards, as well as to provide modern amenities and additional apartments. Designed to be transformed in three phases, the project encouraged current residents to remain on-site throughout the process, retaining nearly 90% of its residents. Chalmers Courts is community-focused, providing safe, family-friendly outdoor spaces such as playgrounds, sport courts, grill areas, and multi-purpose lawns. The project transforms a former vehicular road that bisected the property into a pedestrian and bike thoroughfare, further promoting community connectivity and safety. Modern green infrastructure and sustainable strategies are also introduced to the site, from rain gardens and A/C condensate recovery to the preservation of magnificent heritage trees that provide shady refuge throughout the complex. Client: Housing Authority of the City of Austin | Carleton Architect: Nelsen Partners | Architects & Planners Landscape Architect: dwg. Civil Engineer: Dunaway Photography: Matt Niemann

This transformative project reclaims a former petrochemical tank farm, turning it into a vibrant, eco-conscious office campus in Austin. With native meadows, woodlands, and an urban creek, Springdale Green sets the standard for urban ecology and sustainability, seeking both LEED Gold and Sustainable SITES certification. Join the team from Gensler and Daniel Woodroffe at the Houston TxA conference today at 4pm, to learn how innovative water management systems and immersive green spaces are redefining what a healthy work environment can be. #TxA24

Today at the Houston TxA conference, dwg. and Agenda Architecture will present the transformative story of St. John Encampment Commons, from its historic roots as a gathering place for the St. John Baptist Association to its current role as a dynamic public park at Austin Community College’s Highland Campus. This presentation will explore how a former mall parking lot was thoughtfully redesigned into a 2.4-acre urban green space that honors the rich cultural history of the site while supporting the needs of modern Austin. Attendees will learn about the project’s design process, including its innovative use of adaptive reuse, and how the event pavilion became such a fascinating design challenge and a pivotal moment for the project. If you’re attending the conference, we encourage you to join us at noon today for a deep dive into how urban spaces can evolve to reflect both historical significance and future community needs. We look forward to sharing the details and vision behind this award-winning project.

Park(ing) day is a global event where communities transform curbside parking spaces into temporary public parks and social spaces, advocating for safer, greener and more equitable streets. At dwg., we’re proud to be at the forefront of this movement, having pioneered pocket parks on Congress Avenue to reclaim and enrich downtown pedestrian spaces. Let’s continue to reshape our urban landscape, one park(ing) space at a time!

I’m excited to share that the St. John's Encampment Commons park has been awarded 'Best Public Place' by ULI Austin! ?? This 2.4-acre park, once a surface parking lot for the former Highland Mall, has been transformed into a vibrant public space serving as a gateway to the Austin Community College Highland Campus and the City of Austin Planning and Development Center. Long before the mall and parking lot, this land was used by the St. John Baptist Association, an African American community, for annual gatherings and educational events dating back to the late 19th century. Now, it has been reimagined as a community space that brings people together once again, bridging the area’s history with its future. This project is a testament to the power of adaptive reuse—breathing new life into urban spaces while preserving historical significance. I am very proud of what we’ve accomplished together! Developer — RedLeaf Properties Landscape Architect — dwg. Architect — Agenda Architecture Civil Engineer — WGI Structural Engineer — Leap!Structures MEP Engineer — Bay & Associates, Inc. General Contractors — Harvey | Harvey-Cleary Builders | Strata Landscape #ULIAustin #ULIAustinImpactAwards #PublicPlaces #PublicSpaces #StJohnsEncampmentCommons #AustinCommunityCollege #UrbanRevitalization #AdaptiveReuse #CivilEngineering #LandscapeArchitecture #HistoricalPreservation #HighlandMall

We had an incredible time at the Fallout Theater for our team-building day! The improv exercises pushed us out of our comfort zones and fostered quick thinking and collaboration. It’s amazing how such a fun activity can enhance both creativity and collaboration. Highly recommended!!

Nearing completion of this remarkable transformation, Springdale Green reimagines the conventional workplace environment by transforming and healing a 30-acre former petrochemical tank farm into an environmentally conscious office campus — reestablishing native meadows, woodlands, and an urban creek tributary. Designed to be immersive and engaging, an elevated boardwalk forms a continuous meandering loop that leads tenants and guests through the campus’ various eco-zones. Seeking both LEED Gold and Sustainable SITES Gold certification, this project aims to be a model for urban ecology and sustainable development in Austin. Rainwater and A/C condensate is reclaimed and stored in an underground cistern, and the site’s rain gardens and bio-retention basin are designed to address stormwater not only for the campus but also to reduce flooding in the surrounding neighborhood. Client: Jay Paul Company Architect: Gensler Civil: Kimley-Horn Structural: IMEG MEP: EEA Consulting Engineers Lighting: Tillotson Design Associates General Contractor: Level 10 Construction Geotech: Terracon Steel Fabrication: Patriot Erectors, LLC Steel Fabricators Millwork: Duffin Architectural Solutions Landscape Contractor: CleanScapes Deck Material: Kebony