Amidst the flats of the Gulf Coast lies High Island, a salt dome mound with a century-long legacy of oil extraction. Today, High Island has become an international haven for avian enthusiasts. Nature sanctuaries managed by the Houston Audubon Society (HAS) attract migratory birds, fostering a vibrant ecosystem where various species flourish.
In collaboration with HAS, SWA devised a comprehensive facilities master plan aimed at creating an unparalleled “destination experience” for the birdwatching community. At its core stands a breathtaking 700-foot-long Canopy Walk, a sinuous pathway weaving through the natural arboreal canopy. This feature guides visitors to man-made island overlooks, offering intimate glimpses of nesting egrets, spoonbills, and cormorants.
Throughout the design phase, the team maintained a commitment to habitat preservation and project longevity. The boardwalk minimizes disruption to the existing ecosystem, intricately threading through heritage oaks and towering trees while mimicking tree structures to blend in.
The redesigned pumphouse at the threshold of the boardwalk is now an open-air pavilion, welcoming guests and serving as a versatile venue for events. Resilient structural elements and durable materials ensure the project can withstand the harsh coastal environment.
Exploration Green
As climate threats escalate, cities face the challenge of protecting their residents from the devastating impacts of intensifying storms and flooding. For Houston, a city all too familiar with the destructive power of hurricanes, Exploration Green enhances community resilience by converting a 178-acre defunct golf course into a multifunctional green space.
...Shenzhen Bay
Situated just across the bay from Hong Kong, the city of Shenzhen has transformed from a small fishing town of 30,000 to a booming city of over 10 million people in 40 years – and has grown over 200 times its original size since 1980. Along the way, the character of Shenzhen’s bayfront was radically altered. Over 65 km2 of marsh and shallow bay were filled to ...
Changsha Baxizhou Island
Over many decades, public agencies in China have sought to solve growing flooding issues in a defensive way: fortifying and hardening river edges, raising levee heights, and ultimately separating the people from historical connections to the water. With an understanding of river flow processes and volumes and of wetland and native forest ecology, this separati...
Guthrie Green Park
Guthrie Green transforms a 2.6-acre truck yard into a lively urban park in the heart of downtown Tulsa’s emerging arts district. Opened in September 2012, Guthrie Green has become the area’s leading destination, drawing 3,000 plus people weekly to activities that have enriched the urban experience and spurred district-wide revitalization. The high-performance ...