Hermann Park Lake Plaza by Overland Partners

Hermann Park Lake Plaza serves as the front door for visitors bound for Hermann Park, an area that contains several local attractions The Lake Plaza consists of 5 new buildings, a mini-train depo, a cafe and terrace, and the new Tiffany & Co. Foundation Bridge.

• Architect: Overland Partners
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Project area: 15,000 SF, 8 Acres
• Project cost: $11 Million
• Project year: 2010

Incorporating public art into the Lake Plaza was important to the Hermann Park Conservancy and 3 designers were selected to create a water feature in McGovern Lake, a series of mythical creatures made from recycled material, and a collection of translucent glass cyclinders.  The Lake Plaza also incorporates many sustainable strategies and was award LEED Gold certification.

History
Hermann Park, presented to the City of Houston by George Hermann in 1914, is one of Houston’s most popular and historically significant public green spaces. Located in the heart of Houston, the 445-acre park has been an important resource for Houstonians for generations, and is celebrated as a place that has always welcomed diversity and fostered a strong sense of community among its patrons.

Over the years, the Houston Zoo, Miller Outdoor Theatre, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston Garden Center, and Hermann Park Golf Course have all added to the Park’s significance as an unparalleled recreational destination.

By the late 1980s, the Park had become rundown and was in a state of disrepair due to insufficient public resources and very high public attendance. As a result, a committed group of Houstonians formed Friends of Hermann Park (now Hermann Park Conservancy) to encourage the development of more attractive, usable green space in Hermann Park, and to promote the restoration of the Park to its original standards of beauty.

Awards

• Urban Land Institute Houston Chapter’s Development of Distinction Award (2010)
• American Society of Landscape Association Texas Chapter’s Merit Award by ASLA (2010)

Tags: Houston, Texas

Category: Public Landscapes

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