The Guangzhou Green Axis District Urban Design paved the way for new growth in one of China’s major metropolitan areas by bringing nature into the city, connecting people to the river and CBD, and providing a major park and open space for all ages. In the early 2000s, when the project commenced, Guangzhou was a rapidly growing city of approximately 8 million. Today, Guangzhou has a population of more than 15 million, and the project provided the framework for a vibrant, pedestrian-oriented urban setting to meet the growing needs of its population. SWA worked closely with the Guangzhou Urban Planning Institute (GUPI) to plan the new district, providing critical input on building heights and massing, conceptual design of the central axis, vision for a major block system and connections into current and future streets, and a large central plaza along the Pearl River. Viewed locally as one of the most prominent city planning efforts in China, the green axis is recognized as one of the most successful urban design strategies for new city development.
Beaumont Downtown Plan
Beaumont sits at the heart of Texas’s “Golden Triangle” and has recently been named a top travel destination and the “Cajun Capital of Texas,” with billions of dollars in new energy investment now flowing into the city. Yet despite this momentum and its historic architecture, downtown Beaumont has struggled to sustain vitality, at...
ARTIC – Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center
ARTIC, the new 16-acre Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center in Southern California, forms a seamless gateway from Anaheim to all of Orange County, spurring economic growth and community redevelopment throughout the region. The landscape design establishes a unique and identifiable image for the ARTIC Mixed-Use District by complementing the site’s ...
Sonoma State Weill Lawn & Commons
Weill Lawn and Commons provide outdoor performance venues at Green Music Center, a world-class performing arts complex. The landscape architects prepared overall master planning and landscape architectural design. A simple, dramatic grading plan unifies project elements, directs circulation, and buffers concert venues from adjacent roadway traffic. Weill Lawn...
Houston Warehouse District Vision Plan
The Houston Warehouse District is home to numerous cultural attractions and has established itself as an arts community over the past 40 years. Its diversity and distinct character make it a valuable cultural asset to downtown and to the City of Houston. The district’s fabric includes light industry, residences, mixed-use development, and higher educatio...