Lynn Wyatt Square for the Performing Arts is a new outdoor cultural venue in Downtown Houston’s Theater District. The transformed public plaza functions as a hub for a more interconnected, accessible, and inclusive green space, providing a cultural heart for both Houstonians and visitors.
Inspired by the concept of Urban Choreography, the placemaking strategy is shaped by the dynamic movements of the performing arts. Boasting flexible outdoor performance configurations, Lynn Wyatt Square supports year-round engagement with the arts through public programming such as music, theater, dance, film, opera, art installations, and festive celebrations — operated by Houston First Corporation.
Embarking on the Lynn Wyatt Square project presented a significant challenge: how to imbue the public space with a sense of purpose that would truly resonate with the city’s diverse community. We quickly realized that simply building a beautiful design was not enough; the public space needed a compelling reason for people to come together.
Through extensive collaboration with stakeholders, including Houston First Corporation, Discovery Green, Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Market Square, and others, we delved into a comprehensive discovery process to understand the existing recreational and cultural landscape of downtown Houston. What emerged from these discussions was a surprising revelation and biggest opportunity. It became apparent that no single entity within the theater district was tasked with considering the district holistically. This presented a golden opportunity for Lynn Wyatt Square to fill this void, becoming a central nexus connecting the district’s various cultural offerings.
The landscape design reflects exceptional efforts towards designing a better future, focusing on climate mitigation, resiliency, biodiversity, and ecological advocacy. Once a concrete heat island, the plaza has been reimagined into a sustainable, climate responsive green oasis. It also achieves ADA accessibility at four site entry points, activating the space for urban life and discovery.
The redesign, recognizing Houston’s natural environment, incorporates native plants, mature live oak shade trees, and an immersive water feature to mitigate extreme heat. This offers a more comfortable outdoor space, with a 19% reduction in hardscaping and a 92% increase in plantings, including a 27% increase in trees, creating cooler spaces, improved air quality, and an expanded habitat for local flora and fauna. The design also provides a 60% increase in seating compared to the former plaza, while a vivid color palette evokes joy and wonder through strong placemaking.
In 2017, the former site was flooded from Hurricane Harvey, submerging both the above-ground area and all three levels of the 700,000 sq. ft. parking structure below. In coordination with efforts to retrofit the garage with flood barriers, the design strategy included elevating all garage air intake openings and the first floor of the building on site to align with Houston’s 500-year elevation plan, ensuring resilience against extreme weather events, all while ensuring ADA accessibility and maintaining visual openness in the plaza.
Lynn Wyatt Square for the Performing Arts exemplifies the transformative impact of intentional and sustainable design. It prioritizes equitable access to the arts, fostering community and enhancing cultural vibrancy in a shared public space.
Landscape Architects and Urban Designers: RIOS
Executive Landscape Architectural for Planting Design: Asakura Robinson
Architecture offices involved in the design:
Design Architects and Experience Designers: RIOS
Executive Architects: HarrisonKornberg Architects
Location: 600 Louisiana Street, Houston, TX 77002
Design year: 2018-2023
Early design phases: 2018
CDs: 2019-2020
Construction: 2021
Year Completed: 2023
