Emergent Urbanism: Evolution in Urban Form, Texas

MARCH 2008

The Central Texas Region has witnessed unprecedented growth and development over the last century and there is no sign of an imminent slowdown. This growth is especially evident in Austin, which has been doubling in population every twenty years and has experienced revitalization in downtown mixed-use and residential development, cultural amenities, and public parks and open spaces.

Emergent Urbanism: Evolution in Urban Form, Texas a joint Placemaking Studio, Congress for the New Urbanism, and University of Texas publication is a richly illustrated resource that tells the story of the Central Texas region, highlights current policies and up-and-coming projects, and provides balanced views on the growth, change, and prospective future of Austin.

This book offers significant insight into the social, physical, and economic planning and design of Central Texas by a number of local and influential authors, including Mayor Will Wynn, a leading advocate of green building and sustainable design; Senator Kirk Watson; Fritz Steiner, Dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Texas; as well as architect, urban designer, and CNU Athena Medal award recipient, Sinclair Black, FAIA (Principal, Placemaking Studio). Proceeds from book sales will be donated to a University of Texas School of Architecture Scholarship Fund.

EDITORS

Frederick Steiner
Sinclair Black
Jeff Gipson
Marisa Ballas

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword, by Will Wynn

INTRODUCTION

DNA of Austin, by Sinclair Black
Envision Central Texas, by Frederick Steiner
Austin Creeks: An Openspace Plan, by Sinclair Black
Austin’s 2035 Sustainable City Initiative, by Cid Galindo
The Texas Triangle Megaregion, by Kent Butler, Frederick Steiner, and Ming Zhang

HISTORY

The Green Heart of Texas, by Kent Butler and Frederick Steiner
Districts for Downtown Austin,  Jana McCann
The Capitol Campus, by Richard Cleary
The Texas Capitol Building, by the American Institute of Architects
Campus Architecture and Planning at The University of Texas, by Lawrence Speck
Austin’s Treasured Neighborhoods, by Will Wynn
Moonlight Towers: Austin, by David Heymann
Zilker Park, by Mirka Benes
The Austin Music Scene (And How it Got to Be This Way), by Stephen Ross

PROJECTS

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, by Rick Archer
Gardens Master Plan: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, by W. Gary Smith
Colorado River Corridor, by Jonathan Ogren
Building Utopia: The Mueller Development, by Katherine Gregor
Great Streets: Downtown Austin, by Sinclair Black
AMLI Downtown, by Marisa Ballas and Sinclair Black
Instant Community: The Domain, by Carl Gromatzky
The South Strip: A Brief History of South Congress, by Ann Tucker
The Charles Moore Center, by Kevin Keim
The Leander TOD and Smartcode, by Scott Polikov
River North: San Antonio, by Sinclair Black and Stefanos Polyzoides
Dallas Arts District, by Duncan T. Fulton
Victory Park: New District Holds Great Civic Promise for Dallas, by David Richter
Sundance Square: Ft. Worth, by Fernando Costa
Buffalo Bayou: Houston, by Anne Olson
Developer Rules for Successful Infill, by Larry Warshaw

POLICY

Development for the Long Now, by Gail Vittori
Affordability and Opportunity: Austin, by Elizabeth Danze and Elizabeth Mueller
From Assembly to Innovation: Economic Development Planning the Land of Laissez-Faire, by Michael Oden
The Ecobalance Approach to New Urbanism and the Smartcode: Efforts Taken at Verano, a New Community and University in San Antonio, Texas, by Pliny Fisk
Indicators and Urbanism in the Emerging Central Texas Metropolis, by Jim Walker
Vertical Mixed-Use Overlap, by Rachel Proctor May and Brewster McCraken

Regional Transportation: Central Texas, by Senator Kirk Watson

CONCLUSION

Prospective Futures, by Wilfried Wang
Geography of Opportunity, by Sinclair Black