Standing 28 stories tall, Norton Rose Fulbright Tower integrates the nearby park’s essence into its design, blending the natural landscape with the office tower.
The design connects indoor and outdoor spaces by extending interior lobby finishes into the public realm and flowing exterior planting into ground-floor retail areas, strengthening the link to Discovery Green Park.
Wide pedestrian zones and tree canopies along the building’s frontage enhance walkability. The streetscape connects to Lamar Street bike lanes, promoting alternative transportation. Ground-level retail spaces, including over 5,000 square feet of outdoor patio space, engage with the public realm and connect to Discovery Green across the street.
Tiered roof terraces showcase unique landscape themes: a “woodland garden” on the 12th floor, a “pollinator garden” on the 20th floor, and an “arid garden” and “pocket prairie” on the 28th floor. These terraces highlight Houston’s diverse ecology and offer city views.
Sustainability is central to the design. A 48,000-gallon rainwater collection tank supports irrigation and non-potable water uses. Native and adaptive plant species minimize water use and maintenance. These practices contribute to achieving LEED Platinum, WELL, and Fitwel certification goals, positioning Norton Rose Fulbright Tower as one of Houston’s most environmentally conscious buildings.
Brackenridge Park
At the confluence of the San Antonio River lies Brackenridge Park, a once postcard-worthy destination with a rich heritage obscured by years of neglect.
Reimagining cultural landscapes requires balancing historic preservation, ecological health, and visitor experience. Rather than opting for piecemeal rehabilitation as originally proposed by the city, S...
Katy Trail
Katy Trail represents a remarkable resource for the residents of the Dallas Fort Worth region. This project enlivens and makes accessible right-of-way established by the storied, but later abandoned, Missouri-Kansas-Texas (better known as the “Katy”) line, and serves as a unifying element for the surrounding neighborhoods. Katy Trail provides appro...
San Antonio Spirit Reach
San Antonio’s river trail system has long stood incomplete, its northern reach at Brackenridge Park abruptly halted by a patchwork of private lands. Recognizing the waterway’s cultural significance, landowners forged an unprecedented partnership, opening sections of their properties for public benefit. The 162-acre Spirit Reach Vision Plan allows v...
San Pedro Street Pedestrianization
SWA created a vision for transforming North San Pedro Street in the heart of Downtown San Jose into a vibrant pedestrian outdoor dining and socializing space, formalizing and enhancing what local restaurants and city leaders had begun during COVID-19. The design replaces the existing curbs and roadbed with plaza paving to create a continuous space for people w...