The redevelopment of Waller Creek will lead to a wholesale transformation of the East end of downtown. As a massive tunnel diverts floodwaters and removes the area from the floodplain, an independent conservancy is driving bold plans for redevelopment of the area. The first step is a design competition.
On Monday, The Waller Creek Conservancy announced the results of the first phase of “Design Waller Creek: A Competition.” Out of 31 submissions, nine design teams were selected will continue on to the next stage of the competition. The goal is to pick a design team lead development of a master plan for Waller Creek redevelopment across the southeast corner of downtown.
Waller Creek As it Flows through Downtown
The lead design teams chosen by the independent jury to advance to Stage II includes a good selection of local and national design firms:
Burgos & Garrido Arquitectos and Miro Rivera Architects
Civitas and BIG New York City
CMG and Public Architecture
James Corner Field Operations and SHoP
!melk and Page Southerland Page
Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates and Thomas Phifer & Partners
Stoss Landscape Urbanism and Saucier & Perrotte
Turenscape and Lake | Flato Architects
Workshop: Ken Smith Landscape Architect, Ten Eyck Landscape Architects and Rogers Marvel Architects
In Stage II, the lead designers must assemble complete integrated design teams that are capable of executing the project. To assist in this effort, the Conservancy will host a networking session to provide an opportunity to local consultants and contractors, including small, women- and minority-owned and small, disadvantaged businesses, to meet with the nine lead design teams for potential opportunities to team up during Stage II of the competition. The networking event will be held February 28, 2012 at the Palm Door on 401 Sabine Street from 10 a.m. to noon.
The lead designers will decide who and which disciplines they choose to include, with a focus on the design phase as opposed to construction. The target audience for the networking session includes architects and landscape designers; civil, structural and MEP engineers; cost consultants; project/program management; urban planning and design, and specialty design consultants.
“Waller Creek presents a unique landscape challenge and we will see some incredible teams formed to respond to this challenge in the next phase,” Stephanie Lee McDonald, executive director of the Waller Creek Conservancy, said. “This process, the first of its kind for Austin, has been thrilling and we are eager to see the work of the teams selected to advance to Stage II.”
