Houston constructing new downtown plaza and greenspace

Two blocks from light rail

Steve Hawley, Sep 22, 09.

A downtown parking lot is being converted into greenspace and a transportation plaza, according to Judge Ed Emmett’s newsletter. The new plaza is bounded by Franklin, Caroline, Congress, and San Jacinto streets. Construction began on August 3 and is expected to take 18 months. The plaza will also hold a new jury assembly room underground.

According to PageSoutherlandPage, the lead architectural firm:

The unique organization of the facility preserves the site as a public park. It also organizes the program inside a secure perimeter as the entry pavilion will be a security check point [for the jury assembly room]. Once inside, the assembly space is connected via tunnel to the courts on neighboring blocks. After hours, the space will be available to the public for approved activities. The site also plays a key role in the greater urban design strategies of downtown Houston, linking historic green squares, bus routes, bike routes and the expanding green necklace of bayou park space.

The new plaza will be two blocks from the Preston light rail station and one block from the Harris County Administration Building.

(Artistic depiction: PageSoutherlandPage, via Judge Emmett’s newsletter)