Lake Woodlands: A Vibrant Mixed-Use Development

Essay 19.1

ZIEGLER COOPER

A Vibrant Mixed-Use Development Building A Walkable Community Around Lake Woodlands

One Lake’s Edge at Hughes Landing in The Woodlands, Texas

2 1

4

7

1

One Lake’s Edge

2

Future Apartment Tower

3

RFL Building 2

4

RFL Buildings 4-7

5

RFL Building 9

6

RFL Retail

7

Lake Front North

DECADES IN THE MAKING

Woodlands residential and corporate

cinema, restaurant, hospitality, and

community, established in 1984 by

retail components, are strategically

visionary George Mitchell. The promise

located around it. Nearby is the lively

of that vision was grasped by The

Woodlands Town Center, with its world-

a

Howard Hughes Corporation and The

acclaimed Cynthia Mitchell Woods

model center for the attraction of

Woodlands Development Corporation,

Pavilion, adding yet more value to this

talent, innovation, and those seeking

so that today, neighborhoods border

culture-anchored development that lies

to experience quality-living.

Lake

the western and eastern lakeshores,

just north of Houston, and forms an

Woodlands serves as a cultural and

while major corporate campus, office,

important part of what makes Greater

recreational amenity for the surrounding

multi-family residential, entertainment,

Houston so diverse.

With a widely varied demographic, Lake

2

Woodlands

has

become

3

5

THE ZIEGLER COOPER VISION

completed

in this development long before the

components of the master plan are

concepts became industry buzz words.

also acclaimed designs by Ziegler

There is now measurable proof that

Cooper.

Lake

mixed-use communities like this one not

carefully

Woodlands community, with its vibrant,

only inspire more productive, happy

conceived Hughes Landing mixed use

urban character, attracts corporate

and healthy people, but they create

master plan transformed the eastern

relocations, residents who seek an

measurable

lakeshore

award-winning,

active, pedestrian-friendly environment,

synergy of each part included in the

attractive place to live and allowed the

and recreational visitors from near and

development impacts the performance

mixed uses to spill out onto the street

far.

of the entire community of individual

to create a welcoming sense of public

A WALKABLE COMMUNITY

uses and adds resiliency to the whole.

Ziegler

Cooper’s

into

an

place. With multi-modal connectedness and miles of hiking and biking trails,

development.

As

Numerous

6

a

whole,

the

the community has become a magnet

Walkability and resiliency were

for people who value human-focused

embraced by the visionaries involved

economic

value.

The

The variety of Ziegler Cooper’s urban design incorporated into this vibrant walkable community is described on the following page.

3

Research Forest Lakeside Buildings 4 & 5 Research Forest Lakeside is a

between buildings to create a future

premier mixed-use commercial office

separate lobby and entrance for multi-

development by Warmack Investments.

tenant use, while perfectly serving the

The campus exemplifies well-building

original single-tenant client’s needs and

design

wishes.

employee

by

seamlessly

health

with

blending avantgarde

East Shore Place, designed by

building technology and best use of the

Ziegler Cooper for Wulfe & Co, is

natural setting of the site. Each building

a mixed-use center located at the

designed by Ziegler Cooper, including

entrance to the affluent East Shore

multi-tenant buildings 2 and 4, and the

neighborhood. Its two-level design

north American headquarters for Repsol

offers convenient access to retail,

in building 5, is oriented and designed

restaurant and professional space,

for maximum exposure to views of and

specialty office, and medical space,

access to the lake, while the buildings

and is just a few minutes’ walk from the

and landscaping are designed for light-

shores of Lake Woodlands.

and rainwater-harvesting.

Nestled

at

Hughes

Landing,

The newest office building on

between Town Center and Research

Lake Front North in Hughes Landing,

Forest Drives, is One Lake’s Edge,

originally

a

designed

by

Ziegler

multifamily

development

of

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: SCOTT ZIEGLER, AIA As Founding Principal of the firm and leader of the Urban Architecture Studio, Scott’s design experience reflects his belief that beautiful architecture enriches people’s lives and expresses the spirit of our time through art, craft and technology.

As Residential Practice Area Leader, Scott plays an active role in shaping the urban landscape through his published writings in professional journals on the subjects of sustainable urban growth strategies and highdensity mixed-use developments.

the

Cooper for Chicago Bridge and Iron

Howard Hughes Corporation design

and developed by Hines, faces the

by

northern lakeshore. Offering unique

features panoramic views of the lake,

Ziegler Cooper Architects

opportunities for lifestyle enhancement

plentiful amenities, and is mere steps

700 Louisiana, Ste 350

for employees and visitors, the campus

away from grocery, dining, retail and

Houston, TX 77002

was thoughtfully designed with exit

entertainment

t: 713.374.0000

strategy in mind, by leaving room

Hughes Landing.

4

Ziegler

Cooper.

choices

The

building

available

at

www.zieglercooper.com