In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, Houston was compelled to reassess community preparedness. The 37-acre Alief Center, situated in one of the city’s most culturally diverse areas, addresses longstanding issues of disinvestment and environmental injustice while fostering physical and social resilience.
Elevated above the 100-year floodplain, the Center unites four city departments under one roof, creating a multifaceted community hub that functions as both a daily resource and disaster resilience center. The large, shaded porch serves as a flexible gathering space, embodying a “civic front porch” concept while maintaining street-level connectivity.
Forested basins and bioswales form a natural necklace to manage stormwater, while preserved woodlands and native plantings combat the urban heat island effect. The multi-generational community enjoys diverse recreational facilities, including playgrounds, sports courts, a skate park, and a public pool. Unique features enhance the site’s appeal, such as a wheelchair-accessible community garden, Houston’s first park climbing wall dubbed “Mount Alief,” and a network of trails connecting various “outdoor rooms” designed for workouts, events, and educational classes.
As cities worldwide confront climate change and social inequality, the Alief Center demonstrates how infrastructure investments can address multiple urban challenges. As the first key hub in Houston’s Resilience Master Plan, its performance in disaster scenarios and long-term community outcomes will inform future climate strategies across the city.
Embankment Square
The Embankment Square is located along the east bank of the Huangpu River in Shanghai. The project consists of landscape areas in three office parcels and one waterfront park parcel. The view of the site is remarkable, looking toward the landmark skyscrapers of Lujiazui Financial Center, Nanpu Bridge, the Bund, and the Minsheng CBD.
The design concept c...
Nanjing International Youth Cultural Centre
SWA was retained to design the landscape of this mixed-use development collaboratively with Zaha Hadid Architects. It contains performing arts, hotel, residential, office and retail functions. Located adjacent to SWA’s Nanjing Youth Olympic Park, the design strives to merge architecture, the park landscape, and people at this iconic focal point. Landform...
CSCEC Steel Headquarters Office and Museum
CSCEC Steel is a division of the world’s largest construction company, China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited. CSCEC Steel is recognized as a leading global steel structure manufacturer; their projects include the CCTV Headquarters in Beijing, the Shanghai IFC, the new Abu Dhabi International Airport, and the 26th Universiade Main Stadium. To...
Martin Luther King Jr. Square Water Quality Demonstration Park
The City of Conway received local and federal grants to create a water quality demonstration park in a flood-prone, one-block area of its downtown to educate the public about Low Impact Development (LID) and Green Infrastructure (GI) methods and how they can enhance water quality. The project transformed a remediated brownfield site, ...