Opened in June 2020, the Promenade on Forest transformed one of downtown Laguna Beach’s primary streets into a pedestrian-only promenade for the summer. The effort converted a three-block section of the road from a one-way vehicular corridor with angled parking stalls into a car-free zone with cafe seating, work from local artists, and retail display areas. The project supported local businesses impacted by lost revenue associated with COVID-19.
The design introduced seven large decks, with rails made from wooden pallets and painted in a mahogany tone, as well as movable tables and chairs for additional dining space that adhered to social distancing requirements while offering alternate uses for retail display and performances. Additional elements included works by local artists, overhead string lights that provide a warm evening ambience, Adirondack chairs, umbrellas, and boxed Australian willows.
With a design that anticipated quick fabrication and installation, the Promenade on Forest offers a model to help local businesses stitch together social, environmental, and economic community fabric. Public health and safety measures were made visible through directional sidewalk and street arrows for one-way pedestrian traffic, introduction of hand washing stations, additional retail signage in the street, and visible cleaning staff.
Houston’s Gateway Art Bridges : I-59/69 Beautification
As a city dominated by freeway infrastructure, Houston will be reconstructing portions of its iconic freeways in the near future. This created an opportunity for SWA to reclaim the Houston Interstate experience with a temporary art installation that provides a bold pop of color celebrating Houston’s diversity at eight key threshold bridges along the I-59/69 co...
Houston Green Loop
With the coming expansion and realignment of the highways around Downtown Houston, SWA identified the opportunity to enact a bold vision: a multi-use branded connectivity system that will leverage the immense reconstruction investment. SWA’s concept creates a continuous pedestrian loop over, under, and around the downtown highway system, thus redirecting the u...
Ningbo East New Town Eco-Corridor
SWA provided planning and design services for the 3.3km-long, 250-acre metropolitan Ningbo Eco-Corridor. The project transforms a former agricultural plain that had been taken over by industrial use into urban green infrastructure. Located in the heart of the Yangtze River Delta on China’s coastline, Ningbo is one of China’s oldest cities, with an area of 3,61...
Bagby Street Improvement Plan
The Bagby Street Improvements Project brings a complete renovation and transformation of one of Houston’s most important cultural and civic corridors. As the western gateway to downtown, Bagby Street is home to City Hall, the Central Library, major theater and entertainment venues, hotels, and some of Houston’s most significant urban parks.
Utilizing th...