Boats & Bats

from Architecture Portfolio 2023 - Alexandra Matute-Blanco

critic: Professor Cisco Gomez year: Fall 2022 location: Tom Miller Damn, Austin TX water access view points

The Boats and Bats structure on Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas offers both recreational activities and wildlife conservation efforts. The rentals of kayaks/paddle boards, as well as the preservation of the Mexican Short Tail Bats, create a popular destination for the public. In order to maintain a balance between the enjoyment of the visitors and the well-being of the bats, the structure has implemented several measures. These include the creation of a bats roost nest by the Tom Miller Damn for privacy and the purchase of all commercial kayaks on the lake in order to create a single location for rentals and access. Both nocturnal and diurnal hours will cater to a variety of schedules to ensure the preservation of the bats and their habitat.