A hugely successful 12-acre park on the east side of downtown Houston, Texas, Discovery Green features a great lawn, amphitheater stage and bandstand, promenade, pond, interactive fountain, playground, gardens, dog runs, picnic areas, putting green, public art, two restaurants, a park office and restroom building, and a 600-car underground parking garage. Located adjacent to the George R. Brown Convention Center, the park has stimulated the development of an adjacent residential tower with ground-level retail, an office tower and two hotels while increasing convention business. Discovery Green features approximately 400 programmed activities annually and has been visited by millions since its dedication in 2008.
Discovery Green is part of the National Wildlife Federation’s Certified Wildlife Habitat program, and it has been awarded LEED Gold certification by the US Green Building Council. The park has received numerous national and international honors, including the 2009 Business Week/Architectural Record Award of Excellence, the 2010 Good Green Award and the 2011 World Architecture News Effectiveness Award.
Large Live Oaks, including a 100 year-old tree, were transplanted from on-site to complete an existing shady
allee, and Red Oaks and Maples were transplanted from adjacent building sites. Approximately 85% of the more than 200 different species of plant materials specified for the park are native to Texas. The rich plant palette provides seasonal interest year-round for visitors and food and shelter for urban wildlife.
Lauren Griffith Associates worked with Hargreaves Associates to design the overall park, developed the planting design and construction documents, and provided construction administration services. Page Southerland Page provided architectural services. Art in the park includes Monument au Fantome by Jean Dubuffet, the Mistree and Listening Vessels by Douglas Hollis, Sychronicity of Color by Margot Sawyer and a Jim Dine Heart. Additional temporary art exhibits are featured throughout the year. Discovery Green was complete in April, 2008, with a construction budget of $50 million.
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