Houston’s East End is a bifurcated community, with heavy industry brushing up against a vibrant and culturally diverse residential area. Answering residents’ call for more park space, SWA created Buffalo Bayou Bend Nature Park by converting a formerly neglected industrial site into a wetland ecosystem and public green space.
Three interconnected ponds, hosting 10,000 carefully chosen native plants, create a natural filtration system for urban runoff. A solar-powered pump draws water from Buffalo Bayou into a repurposed concrete cistern, initiating its journey through these constructed habitats. As it meanders, the water is cleansed of bacteria, excess nutrients, and toxic materials before returning to its source. An interactive “Water Table” allows visitors to compare the quality of incoming and outgoing flows, making this complex ecological process tangible.
ADA-compliant crushed gravel paths wind through the wetlands, while a small hill formed from excavated material adds topographic interest and offers a vantage point for visitors. Recycled elements throughout pay tribute to the site’s industrial past.
As a node on a 10-mile regional trail network, Buffalo Bend Nature Park addresses the need for open space in this historically underserved area and serves as a model for ecological restoration and education.
Canvas Park
Canvas Park is an activity-packed recreation center at the heart of Regions North, the latest addition to the growing New Haven community in Ontario. Centering on sports, family play, and social activities, the park offers a 5,000-square-foot lap pool, flexible lawn spaces, sport courts, and reservable outdoor spaces that residents can use for private gatherin...
Evelyn’s Park
In honor of their late matriarch Evelyn, the Rubenstein family donated a historically and geographically prominent five-acre tract on the busy Bellaire Boulevard and created a conservancy to fund a public park with primarily private funds, while engaging the public in its design and development. This park seeks to be reflective and adaptive to the local cultur...
Bicentennial Park Renovation
After nearly 15 years of being closed to the public, Bicentennial Park will soon provide a lively setting for neighborhood recreation. The City of Hawthorne has been home to many creative people throughout history: a legendary athlete and Olympian, Jim Thorpe; a world-famous movie star, Marilyn Monroe; and one of the most beloved American rock bands, The Beach...
Wuhan Huafa Capital Park
Wuhan Huafa Capital Development is located in the city’s urban core, amidst the hustle and bustle of busy streets and neighborhoods. The nearly 57,000-square-foot green space, adjacent to the Wuhan Capital Residential Development Sales Center, is envisioned to provide an immersive landscape experience for the sales center’s model housing area during the advert...