35 years of TBG: urban planning & development
Urban planning & development helps communities become the space their residents want and need. It answers questions about how people will live, work and play in their cities. TBG has served as landscape architect and planner for many impactful urban planning and design projects, like the ones below.
Plaza Saltillo — Austin, Texas
East Austin was overlooked for decades and is now experiencing a complete renewal. Located throughout six blocks of East Fifth Street and I-35, Plaza Saltillo is a mixed-use development featuring its own transit station. TBG’s design helped connect the site to the larger urban area and increase overall activity. The 11 acres are also home to trendy eateries, grocery retailers, coffee shops and more. In 2021 the site was bestowed a Most Influential, Best Public Place award from ULI.
Victory Commons — Dallas, Texas
Victory Commons is home to a one-acre park, plaza and office tower. It’s adjacent to Victory Rail Station and the American Airlines Center Arena, making it a highly activated hub. Visitors can enjoy ample seating that is comfortably shaded, and nearby office employees can take a peaceful break in the outdoors.
The Republic — Austin, Texas
More than 50,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor amenity space, The Republic is a luxurious office tower set in the heart of downtown Austin. A major factor in the project’s design was connection to nature, located directly across from Republic Square. The 18,000 square foot plaza design is oriented in a way to interface at the lobby and include restaurant elements.
Waterline — Austin, Texas
Austin’s first supertall high-rise, Waterline will be an iconic piece of the city’s skyline. The ground level is filled with retail and restaurant, and an open design will allow Austinites and residents of the tower to interact and explore the surrounding Rainey Street District. Waterline will have access to Waterloo Greenway and the iconic Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail.
Five Mile Creek — Dallas, Texas
Alongside The Trust for Public Land, TBG is working with south Dallas community members to improve access and connectivity to the 17-mile-long watershed through south Dallas, Five Mile Creek. The park’s design was strongly influenced by community and stakeholder input through multiple community engagement efforts. The site will feature three new parks, and its design represents how inclusive urban design can be transformative to the social, economic, and environmental wellbeing of a community.
South Main Village Parks — Fort Worth, Texas
In need of more gathering spaces within dense areas, South Main Village Parks respond to this. The parks are two intimate spaces — one is an off-leash dog park with seating and shade, and the other is a flexible linear park featuring an accessible boardwalk with integrated pavilions and seating, multipurpose lawn, environmental graphics, limestone quarry blocks to define spaces and provide extra seating, as well as adjacent alley improvements.
Magnolia Micro Park — Fort Worth, Texas
This project was a temporary pop-up park in Fort Worth’s Near Southside District that showcased the value of small-scale parks within urban space. Its design included a large shipping container to host monthly rotating art works as well as donated lacebark elms and holly trees in wooden planter boxes and custom picnic tables. The micro park used primarily donated materials and volunteer labor, and its 21 active months were so impactful that resulted in relocation to the SoMa development at 125 South Main St.
20ft WIDE — Austin, Texas
For five days in 2013, the alley on Ninth Street between Congress and Brazos was one of the most vibrant spots in downtown Austin. Work by the 20ft WIDE design team of professionals, artists, municipal commissions and university students, as well as music, arts and crafts, food, PechaKucha and storytelling drew hundreds of visitors. The pop-up had everyone rethinking the role of downtown alleyways.
Crowdus Street Pop-Up Park — Dallas, Texas
Crowdus Street’s pop-up park existed for four days during the Congress for the New Urbanism annual meeting in Dallas in April 2015. The event held a movie night, multiple musical performances, clowns and circus performers, live graffiti art and other engaging activities. Its success actually led to TBG being commissioned by the Deep Ellum Foundation in 2020 to design a permanent pedestrian plaza located within the same area.
