Sustainable urban development for Austin, Texas — LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AOTEAROA

Construction is underway on a new 26-hectare, mixed-use community in Austin, Texas. Called Uptown ATX, the transit-oriented public realm designed by SWA/Balsley with Coleman & Associates will form the heart of Austin’s second downtown.

The transit-oriented neighbourhood sits between Charles Schwab campus and the Domain, featuring 3.2 million square-feet of workspaces, 300 thousand square metres of multi-family units, 56 thousand square-metres of retail and hospitality, and four and a half hectares of public open space.

Uptown ATX will form the heart of Austin’s second downtown precinct.

The new Capital Metro Rail Station forms a critical mass transit connection to downtown Austin and the larger region.

SWA/Balsley’s team has been tasked with designing the district’s streetscapes, seven public parks and plazas, and amenity terraces for two development blocks. They are involved with four landscape projects currently in design and construction:

Work is underway on the transit-oriented neighbourhood.

The first phase, One Uptown, is currently in construction. It includes a public park, and is targeting LEED Silver certification and Austin Energy Green Building certification. One Uptown (Block A) features two buildings designed by different architects, and SWA/Balsley’s singular landscape design unites the two, integrating a variety of outdoor spaces.

Tree-lined streetscapes and cycle lanes lead to a co-working and dining courtyard along Burnet Road, as well as a public park and play lawn, serpentine seat wall and hammocks.

One Uptown is the first phase of construction and includes a public park.

One and Two Skyrise (Block L) offers a trio of open spaces. Confetti Sports Park, a 1.4-acre confetti-like arrangement of sport courts with all-age play spaces and games, surrounds a multi-purpose lawn with amphitheatre seating.

The aim is for the park to draw residents and employees from the adjacent office tower. Transit Plaza is a bustling urban space with the flexibility to host public events such as markets, festivals and performances, and Uptown Green, overlooking Transit Plaza, is an elevated urban oasis inspired by Austin’s Hill Country.

The social courtyard is part of the private amenities on offer for residents.

The Chase at Uptown (Block F) offers outdoor amenities for 529 units. Pedestrian-friendly streetscapes are lined with gardens and shade trees, and a pedestrian passage between the two buildings provides a dog run.

A lush public park boasts a relocated Live Oak tree and gently sloping lawn, and each building has two private amenity courtyards for residents- the ‘social courtyard’ with a pool, lounge areas and dining areas, and the ‘quiet courtyard’ with lush gardens and intimate seating nooks.

More of the amenities on offer for residents.

Walnut Springs Lake Park is spread across nearly seven acres, with a central water body that acts as a combination detention and retention pond, capturing, storing and cleaning much of the district’s stormwater runoff.

Resilient features, such as wetlands, allow the park to withstand flooding during storm events. Most activities are situated above the floodplain, but the Park’s lower path encourages users to engage with the water at close range when not in flood.

SWA/Balsley says Uptown ATX will set a new benchmark for sustainable urban development.

A significant grade change is managed through the use of steps, amphitheatre seating, and limestone blocks. Universally-accessible pathways surrounding the pond link north of the site to a regional trail system, providing users with access to nearly 23 miles of recreational trails.

“Together with the development, this robust public realm will establish Uptown ATX as a new regional destination to work, live and play, and a place for all Austinites to share,” say SWA/Balsley. “Uptown ATX will set a new benchmark for sustainable urban development and dynamic placemaking in Austin.”