Asakura Robinson Brochure

Photo by Slyworks

A B O U T U S

Asakura Robinson is a planning, urban design and landscape architecture firm which strengthens environments and empowers communities through innovation, engagement, stewardship and an integrated design and planning process.

Our approach is guided by our commitment to interaction, diversity and innovation. We value the ability of the public to participate in our projects, creating places that encourage social interaction, and our staff’s deep engagement in our communities. We value our diverse workplace and communities and seek to optimize existing community-based and ecological resources. Finally, we value creativity in our processes, materials, technology, collaborations, approach and design palette.

FIRM LEADERSHIP

Our most valuable resource is our people. Asakura Robinson staff are the essential element driving our collaborative practice, and they represent a diverse cross section of the profession and of the communities with which we work.

Keiji Asakura, fasla, pla, clarb

FOUNDING PRINCIPAL

Keiji Asakura holds more than 40 years of visionary leadership and experience in urban design, landscape architecture, and community planning. His work carefully balances beauty with function, resulting in plans and designs that draw off rich historic and cultural context and offer enhanced mobility, resilience, community health and social interaction.

Margaret Robinson, pla, leed ap, sites ap

FOUNDING PRINCIPAL

Margaret Robinson holds more than 30 years of planning, urban design and landscape architecture experience in Texas, California, and abroad with special expertise in innovative design thinking and overall project leadership. An expert and advocate of sustainable design, Margaret has championed the use of green infrastructure and high-performance landscape design solutions.

E Q U I T Y

As a minority-owned business with an explicit goal of working with historically underserved communities, Asakura Robinson is committed to nurturing professionals of all backgrounds, such as: race, class, gender expression and identity, sexual orientation, national origin and educational attainment.

We see hiring as an opportunity to build on not only our technical skills, but also local knowledge, experience, cultural competency and relationships in a way that furthers the team’s understanding of the communities with which we work. We strive to uphold a studio culture in which all staff feel empowered, engaged, challenged, supported and at the forefront of their professions.

L A N D S C A P E A R C H I T E C T U R E

We create vibrant public spaces through high-performance landscapes that are inspired by nature and driven by a collaborative and multi-disciplinary design process.

Landscape Architecture at Asakura Robinson connects people to their natural world. We work closely with individuals, neighborhoods and communities to create lasting solutions to the barriers they face in urban life. Our designers create spaces that provide needed ecosystem services, environments that strengthen communities and micro-habitats to rebuild native populations, we bring a motivation to improve social disparities. We constantly strive to introduce innovative ideas, work to meet client visions and improve our process after every project. Our dedication has led to long lasting client relationships and the transformation of communities one project at a time.

Photo by Peter Molick

Photo by Geoff Lyons

Photo by Shau Lin

P L A N N I N G

Planning at Asakura Robinson is founded in active listening. Our team of planners builds authentic engagement and trust with community members, stakeholders and clients to preserve and enhance a community’s existing assets, while paving the way for new opportunities. We help our clients achieve common core values of equity, sustainability and long-term resilience. Our goal is never to create a plan that sits on a shelf. Through our engagement work, data-driven analysis and strategic thinking, we ensure that the planning process generates the capacity and buy-in needed for implementation.

We work to create meaningful change in communities through planning, design and engagement.

U R B A N D E S I G N

Cities are diverse, beautiful and often messy places in which larger systemspolitical, social, physical, economic, environmental—are constant forces of adaptation and change.

Urban Design at Asakura Robinson is a practice of creating enriching public shared spaces for communities. We provide aspirational projects rooted in pragmatism to clients; from master planning to plazas and open space to streetscape design, we combine innovative, engagement-driven design methods with a studied application of best practices to create environments that are safe, comfortable and welcoming to persons of all ages, abilities, identities and circumstances. As a spatial and social practice, we seek out connections between private and public spaces and strive to create places with the flexibility and adaptability to reflect the diversity of the many people who use our public spaces.

Civic, Corporate, and Institutional

Simone Leigh, Sentinel IV, 2020. All photos by Christina Murrey. Courtesy of Landmarks, the public art program of The University of Texas at Austin.

Anna Hiss Gymnasium Courtyard

August 2020 - Est. July 2021 | Austin, TX

This sustainable courtyard for one of UT’s historic buildings, the Anna Hiss Gymnasium, centers around a new sculpture by Simone Leigh.

As part of a renovation of the Anna Hiss Gymnasium Courtyard project on UT Austin’s campus, the courtyard adjacent to the building was completely renovated. The focal point of the space is the Sentinel IV sculpture from the renowned artist Simone Leigh. The sculpture, situated in the center of the site along the central promenade, is surrounded by a custom garden seat wall. Two intimate outdoor plazas bookend the

site and provide flexible space for small cafe tables, or educational purposes. A stunning 50FT deodar cedar was preserved as were two Bur Oak trees. Permeable pavers and an abundance of planting areas help to infiltrate water on site. The courtyard also reuses elements by refinishing historic benches and integrating them into the design. This preservation and reuse of materials help make the site sustainable.

MD Anderson Prairie

September 2011 - July 2012 | Houston, TX

After demolition of an existing high-rise facility in 2012, Asakura Robinson worked with the Katy Prairie Conservancy, Applied Habitats, and staff from MD Anderson Cancer Center to transform the site into a restored ‘pocket prairie’: a simply-designed green space that provides restorative ecological benefits to both MD Anderson patients, staff and visitors. As a highly visible example of

a restored native landscape in Houston, the project has helped to support a growing interest in the Houston region to reclaim and restore the region’s most endangered native landscape: the prairie. Moreover, the park has helped to reinforce MD Anderson’s own interest in developing functional landscapes as an integral component of its mission to provide health benefits and restorative care.

RECOGNITION Parks and Natural Area Awards, Houston-Galveston Area Council Mayor’s Proud Partner Award, ASLA Texas Merit Award, ASLA Texas

Now known simply as The Prairie, the park features native rain gardens, meadows of native prairie grasses, and restored wetlands that contrast with the dense urban surroundings.

Photo by Jaime Gonzalez

Photo by Jaime Gonzalez

Mexican American Cultural Center

April 2017 - June 2018 | Austin, TX

Asakura Robinson worked alongside a consultant team led by CasaBella Architects to develop a landscape master plan that addresses issues from accessibility to parking, while also creating a strong visual identity for the campus. Asakura Robinson, worked as the lead landscape architect, and focused on three key elements: A highly visible “Gran Entrada” promenade to improve mobility and provide pedestrian

enhancements at the entry and walkways; Landscape and shading improvements within the site, including the central “Zocalo” and paseo to the center’s theater and gallery spaces; and creation of a distinct connection to the lakefront and Butler trail system with a cafe, outdoor seating area, “Ventana” views to the lake, and a dock and seating and fishing area at the lake’s edge.

This master plan, created with community input, activates surrounding open space to highlight Mexican-American identity.

ABIA Parking Garage & Pedestrian Plaza

January 2016 - October 2019 | Austin, TX

This design project at Austin’s fast growing airport provides travelers and visitors alike a walkable trek filled with fresh greenery and eclectic public art.

As part of expansion efforts at the Austin Bergstrom International Airport, Asakura Robinson, as a subconsultant to PGAL, designed a series of landscape areas around a new parking garage and admin building. The signature feature of the landscape design is a pedestrian “spine” connecting the terminal to the surface parking lots. Curvilinear seat walls respond to the

building architecture and create large planting and rest areas along the central walk. Two Art In Public Places projects will be located within the “spine.” The landscape design along with these signature art pieces will increase the visibility of the pedestrian path and provide visual interest and opportunities to rest in the shade along the walk.

Outpatient Green Roof

April 2019 - October 2019 | Houston, TX

The rooftop garden, created in part for a study looking at the impact of nature on healthcare, was designed to bring nature and tranquility to patients receiving care.

Patients participating in the study are separated into three study groups – a control group in rooms with no view, a virtual reality room where VR goggles take them traveling through nature scenes, and a room with a view of the rooftop garden. The study is looking for psychological and physical improvements. Asakura Robinson designed the garden pro bono in collaboration with local muralist Gonzo247. The team chose

a plant palette containing colorful flowers and a wide variety of plants, to have a maximum impact on the individuals whose rooms overlook it. Designed to help calm down and relax patients, the garden is an escape from their current worries. Asakura Robinson was honored to partner with the hospital and researchers to continue collecting data on the positive benefits nature can have on ones health and psychology.

Before

Houston Bike Plan

November 2014 - July 2015 | Houston, TX

Asakura Robinson worked with Traffic Engineers, Inc., (TEI) and the City of Houston to build upon the existing and ongoing local and regional efforts to establish a comprehensive bikeway policy and network that can be utilized by pedestrians & bicyclists alike, for transportation and recreational use, in a safe and efficient manner. Asakura Robinson supported TEI with transportation planning and led

public outreach with the team to build a public conversation around exciting and realistic options and visions for cycling in Houston.

In the existing conditions analysis, the team examined bike infrastructure by level of comfort for facility types. Design techniques were utilized to improve safety and level of comfort of infrastructure, which was reflected in the network map, not just by facility type, but to indicate comfort level as well.

RECOGNITION

2017 Our Great Regions Award, Connect, HGAC

The Houston Bike Plan presents an opportunity for the region to improve mobility and access, health, and safety.

Almeda Road Reconstruction

August 2011 - December 2017 | Houston, TX

Asakura Robinson provided landscape architecture services as a subconsultant to Walter P Moore, for the City of Houston’s Almeda Road Reconstruction Project. The general project scope allows for the reconstruction of the existing concrete roadway and grade separations with curbs, sidewalks, street lighting, and underground utilities. This project helped build capacity

and existing strengths in the community due to efforts to beautify, calm traffic, and mitigate flooding. The new design features a narrowed central median expanding the four lane roadway to six lanes with a varying ROW. This not only improves traffic flow at signalized intersections but will also provide additional green space for pedestrians and bicyclists.

RECOGNITION

This Green Road Design pilot project incorporates Low Impact Development features such as roadside plantings and engineered soil mixes that filter stormwater to meet stormwater quality goals.

2020 ACEC Texas Engineering Gold Medal Award

Fifth Ward Pattern Book

August 2016 - September 2017 | Houston, TX

Historically, Lyons Avenue, which runs throughout the Fifth Ward has been treated as the community’s main street. The CRC’s redevelopment vision focuses on revitalizing Lyons Avenue’s economic and cultural significance through concerted development efforts and strengthening the community brand. The Pattern Book was developed through meetings with residents

and stakeholders, as well as community surveys in order to understand where the community’s priorities intersected with Lyons Avenue. After synthesizing the community input, our suggestions focused on improving walkability, unifying the area signage and lighting, and continuing to raise the standard for urban development.

The goals of The Fifth Ward Pattern Book focus on establishing branding and walkability standards while preserving the community as it grows and welcomes new residents.

South TransportationCarrolltonEnhancements

November 2019 - June 2020 | New Orleans, LA

Asakura Robinson led the design team and facilitated the development of two design concepts for the South Carrollton Avenue Corridor and underpass.

The consultant team assisted the RPC and City of New Orleans in the development and comparative analysis of facilities improvements within the study corridor to enhance the safety, level of comfort, and accessibility of the Carrollton underpass for non-motorized users, while improving safety

and efficiency where possible. Through an iterative process of developing and refining project concepts, the study resulted in two potential design concepts for the study area bus stops in addition to several shared design elements throughout the corridor that creatively reimagine the existing space.

Austin Corridor Placemaking

July 2018 - July 2019 | Austin, TX

In 2016, voters approved a bond that included capital improvements on major corridors. Asakura Robinson worked with various engineering leads on four of the corridors during the Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) phase.

Asakura Robinson focused on developing large-scale Placemaking Opportunity Reports for each of the four corridors. The placemaking reports provide locations, implementation strategies and partnership opportunities within the opportunity areas. The team combined capital improvement

projects to large-scale placemaking elements for the corridors and took existing conditions and future development for land use, economic development, and transportation into account. Since then, our team has been engaged to provide landscape architecture and urban design services.

Housing and Community Development

Austin Strategic Housing Blueprint Implementation Plan

January 2018 - January 2019 | Austin, TX

This Implementation Plan identifies priority locations for investment in affordable housing preservation and construction.

Asakura Robinson and the Austin Community Design and Development Center (ACDDC) worked with the City of Austin to produce two major documents: an Implementation Plan and an Atlas of Existing and Historical Conditions. The Implementation Plan recommendations include action steps and priorities for the two year and tenyear timeframes, metrics of success for

action steps, resource and funding needs for implementation, and a process and timeline for reporting to City Council on progress. The Atlas of Existing and Historical Conditions helps define key terms from the Blueprint, and uses four key areas of emphasis from the Blueprint to create a set of geographically-specific goals for housing production and preservation.

RECOGNITION

2019 Best Practice Silver Award, American Planning Association Texas Chapter

Pittsburgh Vacant Lot Toolkit

October 2014 - November 2015 | Pittsburgh, PA

One of the legacies of Pittsburgh’s economic shift is a large amount and wide variety of vacant and distressed property. Asakura Robinson was engaged by the Department of City Planning to review the existing programs and policies relating to vacant land disposition, develop policy recommendations to encourage more reuse of City owned vacant properties for edible, flower and rain gardens, and to develop a

toolkit to provide community members and organizations with greater access to these programs. The toolkit was created in part through an Advisory Committee consisting of various City departments and authorities as well as non-profit partners. Useful for projects on both public and private land, the toolkit clearly defines the process to access the nearly 7,200 City-owned vacant lots for food, flower, and/or rain gardens.

RECOGNITION

2016 Planning Award, American ChapterAssociation,PlanningPennsylvania

The project clarified the process by which community members may access vacant lots and developed clear diagrams to facilitate access.

Harris County Housing Plan

October 2019 - ongoing | Houston, TX

In collaboration with The Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University, Asakura Robinson is conducting housing research for Harris County that includes a Market Demand and Absorption Study, along with strategies and recommendations, for a 10year planning horizon. Asakura Robinson is providing affordable housing expertise, as well as leading community engagement, which, due to COVID-19 restrictions, is being

conducted virtually. The team assisted in creating a survey for Harris County residents illustrating housing needs, as well as an interactive Prezi presentation that presents several hypothetical family narratives that demonstrate the different trade-offs and values people have when looking for housing. The Prezi shows participants what affordable housing can look like.

Through a data-driven engagement process, this study examines affordability and needs surrounding housing in Harris County.

All photos by Mark Hiebert

New Hope Housing Harrisburg

April 2016 - July 2018 | Houston, TX

New Hope Housing Harrisburg is a 175unit single-room occupancy apartment community serving those displaced by Hurricane Harvey and other residents with limited income. The Harrisburg building is a transit-oriented development project and reflects New Hope Housing’s commitment to providing permanently affordable housing. Asakura Robinson’s final design features a community service space in the central

courtyard that offers residents a safe, quiet outside space to lounge next to the dining room, library, and mail facilities. On the fourth floor, the community service space includes a planted roof terrace with views of downtown Houston. Asakura Robinson’s designs include maximized permeability of site for reduced runoff as well as drought tolerant and native plants for reduced irrigation requirements.

RECOGNITION

2019 Landmark Awards, Community Impact, Houston Business Journal

Affordable housing gets an upgrade, as this design concept creates a vibrant pedestrian realm and sense of place through art and nature.

Presidio Condominiums Phase I

September 2015 - October 2017 | Austin, TX

In collaboration with David Weekly Homes, Asakura Robinson created a sustainable, low maintenance landscape design that generates a sense of place and community.

Asakura Robinson was engaged to design all common areas in this community, which included an amenity center with a pool and fire pit seating, the front entry area which features a six foot tall masonry wall, mews and open spaces, six different foundation plantings and three model homes. Aditionally Asakura Robinson corrdinated lighting design in these areas, and collaborated with

a civil engineer for storm water filtration, drainage and detention. From an urban ecology view, Asaskura Robinson utilized an all native plants approach to the landscape design in order to minimize water usage and provide pollinator habitat. Another key design component was the water saving irrigation strategy as well as a rain water harvesting tank incorporated in the plan.

Villages of River Oaks

June 2014 - June 2017 | Houston, TX

Landscape elements integrate memory care, sensory stimulation, and universal design at this luxury senior living facility.

In collaboration with House+Partners, Asakura Robinson developed a landscape plan for the senior living facility that enhances the aesthetics of the site to encourage socialization and interaction, while also providing color, fragrance, wildlife habitat, texture, and evolving scenery for the residents to enjoy. The landscape elements were designed to integrate with memory care for older adults with Alzheimer’s and

other forms of dementia. Water elements filter out urban noise, while plants were chosen for their pleasing smell, creating an alluring sensory outdoor experience. To accommodate people of all abilities, the gardens were designed to be barrier free, and paths were made with low-impact materials that were easy to walk on, and handrails were installed where appropriate.

Brush Square Master Plan

January 2018 - January 2019 | Austin, TX

Asakura Robinson worked with the City of Austin to engage downtown residents, workers, tourists, and other stakeholders to create a master plan and implementation strategy to guide future improvements to Brush Square. Based on feedback, Asakura Robinson developed a set of design principles that focused on celebrating the Square’s historic stature, improving the

park experience, promoting connectivity, creating a “front porch” for visitors, ensuring a high quality pedestrian experience, and enhancing urban ecology. The City of Austin adopted the Master Plan on March 28, 2019. Following the completion of the plan, AR was selected to be the Prime Consultant for the implementation of the plan. Final design is currently underway.

RECOGNITION

One of Austin’s four original downtown squares, Brush Square underwent a master planning process to recreate the underused park into a vibrant public space.

2019 American Planning Association Texas Chapter Planning Achievement Award for Urban Design - Silver

DOW Elementary School Park

March 2014 - January 2020 | Houston, TX

Coming into the design process, it was important to preserve and improve many of the elements that were already being embraced by the neighborhood while also adding new elements to further activate the space. In partnership with MetaLab, a series of community meetings were held to determine what elements people loved, and what elements people were excited to transform. Rehabilitated elements of the

pre-existing playground and basketball court were kept, and new hardscaping across the park was added, while paying special attention to using permeable paving. One of the central elements that was added was a longhouse pavilion to act as a gathering space. The pavilion was designed to reflect the specific architectural style of its historic surroundings, and locally-sourced reclaimed wood was used for the internal structure.

RECOGNITION

The historic park renovation in the Sixth Ward focused on improving public accessibility and cultural relevance.

All photos by Peter Molick

2022 American Society of Landscape Architects, Texas Chapter, Honor Award

Pasadena Healthy Parks Plan

February 2019 - July 2020 | Pasadena, TX

Utilizing extensive community engagement and rigorous analysis of scientific data, the Healthy Parks Plan identifie the best opportunities for new parks, park improvements, park programming, and park funding and maintenance. The plan identifies the most effective ways to improve the park system to increase community health and reduce environmental risks.

After providing an evaluation of current conditions of Pasadena parks and trails, and with the help of the Advisory Committee, more than 50 datasets were selected and weighted to build an equity map using a suitability analysis that stacked environmental and socioeconomic vulnerability, community health, and park access indices.

The Pasadena Healthy Parks Plan worked to identify investments in healthy, welcoming, accessible parks to ensure Pasadena continues to thrive.

Mandell Park

April 2009 - September 2014 | Houston, TX

Through a community-driven design process, Mandell Park was transformed into an inviting, sustainably designed gathering place.

Asakura Robinson worked alongside the community to create useful and enjoyable public space, serving a variety of programming needs. The team and community agreed on the importance of recycling and using natural materials. The garden used natural stone, opted for alternatives to plastic, and does not use pesticides or herbicides. The park underwent a remarkable transformation which included

upgrading the existing Meredith Gardens, an Urban Harvest Premier Garden, into an inviting space featuring meandering raised limestone planters for community use. The new park also includes a shipping container that was ‘upcycled’ into a sustainable potting shed with solar powered ventilation and a green roof. Other improvements include pedestrian lighting, educational signage, bioswales, native plantings and compost bins.

RECOGNITION Proud Partner Award, Mayor Anise Parker & Keep Beautiful Merit Award, ASLA Texas Natural Area Houston-Galveston Area

All photos by David A. Brown

Waller Creek Show

May 2017 - November 2017 | Austin, TX

The Waterloo Greenway Conservancy, The City of Austin, and other local stakeholders engaged the downtown community to re-envision how Waller Creek fits into the public realm. Asakura Robinson’s installation, entitled No Lifeguard on Duty, was developed as a response to a particular site along the creek below the 8th Street bridge, but its form was inspired

by significant cultural elements found elsewhere in Austin as well as a desire to create an immersive and highly interactive project. Here you can relax by the pool serenaded by the lights and sounds of the Red River cultural district. You can mingle with other pool-goers, or you can party till the sun comes up. But just remember, there’s no lifeguard on duty.

No Lifeguard on Duty is sited at a unique location on Waller Creek where an aging weir allows the creek’s water to pool and where steps along the creek’s edge invite visitors to dip their feet in the cool water.

All photos by Leonid Furmansky

Opus Trails Placemaking & Urban Design

March 2019 - November 2019 | Minnetonka, MN

Placemaking, ecological design and transit-oriented development are the focal points Opus neighborhood redevelopment.

Developed in 1970, Opus was envisioned as a walkable community of workers and residents existing alongside one another. Now, the neighborhood is experiencing its first wave of redevelopment with the introduction of the Southwest METRO Green Line LRT Extension bisecting the heart of the district, new housing options, and growing national corporations. This plan guides the transformation of the area for future needs

while reflecting the history of the area. Key elements the plan focus on establishing a mixed use community, integrating light rail investment into the community, enhancing the district’s natural features and functions, as well as the trail network to help create a sense of place, developing program elements for a signature new central plaza, and complementing the area’s existing businesses.

RECOGNITION

2021 American Planning Association, Minnesota Chapter, Runner Up for Planning in Context

Inwood Detention Recreation Study

August 2019 - May 2020 | Houston, TX

Asakura Robinson provided landscape architecture and development strategies for the adaptive reuse of a golf course for flood mitigation and recreation networks

Working with civil engineers, engaging with residents and relevant stakeholders, Asakura Robinson provided alternate design options for the detention basins to preserve existing site amenities and developed landscape plans for recreational opportunities. These opportunities included a trail network, ecological restoration, a series of pocket parks, and passive

recreation opportunities along the planned dry and wet detention basins. The landscape plans were developed by researching the plant communities native to the ecoregions. The recreation network of trails and parks will not only provide nearby residents with ample recreation opportunities, but also connect into the larger regional recreation network, increasing connectivity and transportation options.

RECOGNITION

2021 American Society of Landscape Architects, Texas Chapter, Planning and Analysis Excellence Award

Rendering by Chapter 16 Studio

Govalle Neighborhood Pool

October 2016 - March 2020 | Austin, TX

Asakura Robinson served as the prime consultant on the new pool design, which incorporates an expanded lap pool, new activity pool, a bathhouse, shade structures and pool deck area. The project is built around a focus on input from neighborhood residents and local stakeholders. This public input has given the team valuable knowledge on design preferences, essential amenities, site concerns and rich stories

of how the park has been used over the past half century. The robust public input portion of the project set a new standard for community engagement on City of Austin projects, and included three community meetings as well as presentations to the neighborhood association, engaging local stakeholders in a series of hands-on exercises, a site walk-through and bilingual presentation and input materials.

Robust community input was a key factor in the expansion and enhancement of this beloved Austin neighborhood asset.

All photos by Lindsay McAleavy

Magnolia Park Transit Center Redesign

December 2016 - January 2020 | Houston, TX

A central plaza, green infrastructure, and branding and wayfinding enhance the multi-modal hub’s identity and functionality.

In collaboration with Midtown Engineers, Asakura Robinson provided landscape architecture for the transit center’s redesign. The design is centered around improving the user experience, while also evoking a sense of community and place.The key spatial element is a new central plaza that acts as a highly-visible, central gathering and connecting space to facilitate the flow of passengers between modes. Along

the perimeter of the site, increased tree coverage is provided along the walkways offering shade to transit users. Additional space is available for public art and wayfinding signage to assist in the visual ties between train and bus platforms. The redesign calls for tying the station into adjacent trail systems, improving bicycle storage and creating easy transfers between METRO’s bus and rail systems and bicycles.

All photos by Lindsay McAleavy

Imagine Plank Road: Plan for Equitable Development

January 2019 - November 2019 | Baton Rouge, LA

This development plan maps out a bold vision to revitalize a disinvested community, while prioritizing community voices.

The Plan was the culmination of several months of intense engagement of people of all ages and backgrounds who hold a stake in the Plank Road Corridor. It contains findings from analysis of deep-seated socioeconomic and physical challenges, and of greater significance, the community’s unique strengths and assets: a strong

sense of civic pride, cultural identity, and entrepreneurial spirit. Finally, it offers a roadmap to address land, economic and community development that equitably responds to the needs of the adjacent neighborhoods and the broader Baton Rouge metropolitan area.

RECOGNITION

2020 American Planning Association Louisiana Chapter Excellence Award for a Plan

Plan Downtown

December 2016 - November 2017 | Houston, TX

The plan centers on ten key recommendations that are grouped within four “pillars” that define the next twenty years of Downtown’s development. Each pillar is a declarative statement which positions Downtown Houston both within the region and nationally as an urban leader. Downtown is Houston’s greatest place for placemaking activities and attractions Downtown is the premier business

and government location. Downtown is the standard for urban living sets new, aggressive goals for residential development and provides support for a collaborative approach to housing with the adjacent central city neighborhoods. Finally, Downtown is the innovative leader in connectivity.

The development framework for Downtown Houston, Converging Culture, Lifestyle, & Commerce, recommends large and small projects to transform Downtown.

St. Anthony Green Streets

June 2018 - June 2019 | New Orleans, LA

St. Anthony is a street nested in the Gentilly neighborhood, a suburban neighborhood built out of post world war New Orleans. Working with Batture Engineering, Asakura Robinson has been involved with engagement looking at precedent images and collages in order to understand what community members would like to see in the two parks. This feedback informed the design of the spaces and required compromise to ensure multiple

groups felt safe and comfortable using the spaces. The parks were both designed with climate mitigation strategies in mind, and have ample trees and native plantings in order to create shade and manage stormwater. Gatto was designed as a natural space to encourage contemplation, and to mitigate the impacts of the urban heat island effect. Filmore was designed as an active park, it includes a track, a play area, and a half basketball court.

Two parks, Gatto and Filmore, were designed in order to meet provide spaces of contemplation and resilience for residents.

Westchase Livable Centers Study

April 2017 - September, 2019 | Houston, TX

The Westchase Livable Centers Study assisted one of Houston’s main population and business centers remain competitive with other local business districts by promoting it as a live, work, play destination.

The Westchase District area is home to a diverse base of job opportunities, retail, and residential living. The area is poised for further growth, yet with growth comes new challenges and opportunities. Employers in the District are conveniently located to attract talent from across the Houston region, but increased commuting in singleoccupancy vehicles creates traffic and

mobility pressures. As it stands, the District does not have mixed-use developments or homeownership opportunities, but it has advantages in its existing green spaces. The study examines options to make the area more walkable, increase the number of owner-occupied housing opportunities, and accommodate new retail and destination development typologies.

RECOGNITION

2019 Planning Achievement Award, Urban DesignSilver, American Planning Association, Texas Chapter 2019 Merit Award, ASLA Texas Chapter

Historic Walker Lake District Revitalization Plan

November 2018 - April 2019 | St. Louis Park, MN

This plan addresses the challenges facing small businesses including development pressure, incompatible zoning standards, aging buildings and poor connectivity.

Viewed as auto-oriented and underutilized, the Walker Lake district is home to a variety of businesses and historic buildings. This small area plan focused on implementing the community’s previously identified vision, as well as new ideas that were developed through the planning process. Placemaking

strategies will attract economic development and increased foot traffic, which will in turn encourage revitalization. Strategies include wayfinding, temporary activations, and pedestrian public realm improvements. The recommended overlay will improve identified gaps in previous recommendations.

RECOGNITION American Planning Association Minnesota Chapter Success Stories in Implementation

Deer Springs Livable Centers Study

August 2018 - January 2020 | North Las Vegas, NV

Through working with the City of North Las Vegas and the RTC, the implementation plan recommends catalyst projects that encourage walkability, connectivity, and built environment strategies that will support a mutli-modal transportation system, a diverse housing stock, and a strong economy. Recommendations include investing in parks, recreation, and other infrastructure that

will contribute to attracting employers, employees, and new residents. Land use strategies were crafted carefully after reviewing gaps in existing tools and development codes and conducting interviews. Residential and commercial design standard changes were identified to encourage the highest density and degree of mixed uses in the District.

The City sought to build momentum for future development and foster multimodal access and connectivity, a diversity of housing options, and a sense of place.

Vision Galveston

October 2018 - June 2019 | Galveston, TX

This resilience visioning plan empowered the citizens of Galveston to define the future of their city, defining what they valued about their city, what they feared, and what they wanted.

As a subconsultant to Huitt-Zollars, Asakura Robinson worked with the team on this community-driven vision plan. An ongoing organization (the Vision Galveston 501(c) (3)) was created to convene, coordinate, and advocate on behalf of this visioning process. The following five vision statements can be achieved through actions identified throughout the planning process: A historic

walkable gulf coast city embedded in nature; A knowledge center for coastal resilience action and innovation; A great place to vision- because it’s a great place to live; A place where residents can find quality jobs and where all workers can find quality places to live; and A city that is valued for its contributions.

RECOGNITION 2020 Public AssociationGold,AchievementOutreachAward-AmericanPlanningTexasChapter

Central Williamson Creek Greenway Vision Plan

May 2020 - April 2021 | Austin, TX

Central Williamson Creek is a stretch of nearly continuous greenway along Williamson Creek located in a primarily residential area of South Austin. The project area presents a unique opportunity to bring healthy park amenities to a locale that doesn’t currently have accessible green space. Asakura Robinson provided landscape architecture,

urban ecology and public engagement services. The team promoted vital ecological benefits, such as flood control, habitat for wildlife, carbon sequestration, and more, while providing opportunities to develop ways that residents can connect with nature and use the green spaces for recreation, relaxation, and gathering.

This process presents a unique opportunity to bring healthy park amenities to the green space that surrounds Williamson Creek.

Austin FC Stadium Sustainable Design

November 2018 - January 2019 | Austin, TX

Asakura Robinson led discussions within the Austin FC design team related to the sustainable, climate resilient, and ecological design.

These discussions involved facilitating an all-day sustainability convening of City staff representing various departments, coordinating and facilitating follow-up meetings with topical groups ranging from parks and ecology, green infrastructure, and on-site water management to electric vehicle infrastructure, dark skies compliance, and Art in Public Places integration. Asakura Robinson also worked with the design team

to ensure the plant palette and landscape design, led by TBG Partners, aligned with the City’s most innovative goals for establishing urban landscapes that provide habitat value, mitigation of urban heat, resilience to inundation in detention and water quality treatment areas, and a high level of aesthetic value - all rooted in mimicking the local bioregions.

Rendering by Gensler (??)

Resilient Houston

August 2018 - December 2019 | Houston, TX

Houston is a diverse metropolis driven by the presence of the energy industry, renowned research institutions, and strong neighborhoods. Situated on the Gulf Coast, the city has worked to prepare for the extreme weather events. But Houston remains vulnerable to less-familiar shocks, which, left unaddressed, will undermine Houston’s efforts to thrive. By addressing

chronic stresses, such as traffic congestion, homelessness and economic diversity, Houston will be equipped with the foundation needed to be responsive. Now, Houston is strengthening long-term resilience by redesigning infrastructure, overhauling building codes, accelerating an affordable housing strategy, and coordinating regional policies.

RECOGNITION

2020 Resilience Achievement Award - Gold, American Planning Association Texas Chapter

Resilient Houston is a framework for collective action, providing an implementable roadmap to help Houstonians overcome future shocks and chronic stresses.

San Antonio Trail Design Strategy

April 2018 - December 2019 | San Antonio, TX

This trail strategy guide establishes design principles that integrate sustainable and universal designs while highlighting the unique character of the surrounding neighborhoods.

With over 1,450 acres of creekway lands acquired for the trail system at project kickoff, the system was in vital need of standard features and sustainable design principles that both facilitate new trail projects and make the overall system more cohesive. Asakura Robinson’s scope included regional analysis and context research; development of a set of typical trail sections;

identification of unique character areas on the trail; and, a design toolkit with site furnishing items focused on unifying the aesthetic identity of the trail, green infrastructure features focused on enhancing the ecology and connection to nature on the trail, and placemaking and infrastructure recommendations.

Lower Richland Tourism Plan

September 2016 - June 2018 | Richland County, SC

Lower Richland County is framed by significant rivers, home to Congaree National Park, numerous heritage sites, abundant prime farmland, and plentiful pride of place, but has limited economic development and virtually no tourism infrastructure. The plan aims to grow a small business community in tandem with new programs to increase visitorship to the area and provide greater resources for the area’s natural resources,

agricultural opportunities, and historic sites.

To achieve this goal, Asakura Robinson worked closely with the community, dozens of stakeholder organizations, elected officials and Richland County staff. The final plan creates a destination for ecotourism, agritourism, outdoor recreation, wellness, and sustainable environmental land conservation stewardship.

The plan is an effort to create a sustainable tourism economy around the region’s enduring natural and cultural heritage.