The University of North Texas (UNT) envisioned a transformative greenfield campus in Frisco to support the region’s rapid growth and diverse economic needs. The site’s challenges, including topographical variation, stormwater management, and integration with natural and urban contexts, required a master plan that fostered innovation and sustainability while creating a vibrant sense of place.
The plan capitalized on the site’s natural ridge by introducing the Ridge Mall, a central spine that organizes campus zones, provides panoramic views, and establishes a clear spatial hierarchy. Detention and retention ponds manage runoff and enhance aesthetics, connecting directly to Panther Creek’s watershed and reinforcing ecological stewardship. A network of trails and pathways links campus zones and connects to Frisco’s future city park and the Fields HQ mixed-use development, fostering collaboration and accessibility.
The plan integrates native vegetation, existing water bodies, and topographical highlights to minimize environmental impact, while stormwater systems serve as both functional infrastructure and educational tools. A pedestrian-focused approach reduces vehicle reliance, creating a healthier, more connected environment. The Ridge Mall, Bell Tower, and amphitheaters establish a distinct identity, while the phased expansion plan ensures adaptability to future needs while maintaining architectural cohesion.
Foothill Community College
SWA’s design for Foothill College is an exemplary model of site, building, and landscape harmony. The 100-acre campus bridges two hilltops, with parking and roadways relegated to the surrounding valleys. Buildings and landscape together form a series of courts and terraces connected by a continuous campus greenway. Overhanging wood eaves of the low profile bui...
Medgar Evers College
This new quad provides a unifying pedestrian connection between Bedford and Franklin Avenues and between existing and new campus buildings, finally providing the campus with a cohesive identity and sense of place. With the dramatic transformation of a parking lot into more campus green space comes the opportunity to integrate a series of sustainability strateg...
CyFair College
The CyFair College Campus is a model for environmentally responsible development and restoration of a sensitive ecosystem. Located on the suburban fringe of northwest Houston, it is surrounded by the Katy Prairie, an endangered ecosystem of coastal prairie grass meadows marked by groves of trees and connected to a system of wetlands, bayous, and ponds.
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UCSD Theatre District Living & Learning Neighborhood
Replacing over 10 acres of surface parking at the western edge of UCSD’s campus, the new Theatre District Living & Learning Neighborhood introduces housing for over 2,000 undergraduate students, interwoven with academic facilities, campus arts venues, and access to the adjacent La Jolla Playhouse.
Anchored by five mixed-use buildings, the site intro...