South Forty: 2008 Urban Land Institute Competition (4 person team)

The competition was to develop a renewal plan and center for the historic Cedars area south of Dallas, TX. Our development strategy valued existing conditions rather than a tabula rasa approach to urban design. The existing infrastructure of the Cedars and rich architectural palette led us to a design that preserved as much fabric as possible in order to rebuild a vibrant backyard for Dallas. In recent years the Cedars has answered the need of Dallas as a high-end residential retreat and as a node for transportation and commerce. Now the Cedars is evolving as a center for the arts, for nightlife, and is fostering the development of quirky, convenient neighborhoods. However, the infrastructure and services to support the influx of young professionals and residential development is currently missing. Our proposal for the South Forty Arcade would reconnect, re-center, reclaim, restore and preserve, and realize a new destination site. We saw the potential of this once discarded island within sight of downtown Dallas to become a thriving destination distinguished by its green spaces, pedestrian appeal, and community focused core, attractive to all of Dallas..

---