Street Trees Welcome Hotel Visitors in Downtown Austin

Redevelopment of Green Water Treatment Plant at Austin Proper Hotel (also known as Block 188) specifies Silva Cells in support of new entryway trees

Austin Proper Hotel is a multi-award-winning project including the Architectural Design Luxury Hotel Award, the LIV Hospitality Design Award, the Gold Key Award for Excellence in Hospitality Design, and LEED Gold Certification

Block 188 Project

Number of Silva Cells: 252 (2x) 30 (1x)
Number of Trees: 20
Project Designer: Ten Eyck
Project Contractor: Austin Commercial
Installation: Summer 2019

Project Overview

The Green Water Treatment Plant, Austin’s first such facility, was opened in 1924 and served the downtown community for over 80 years. After its closure in 2008, the land was divided into its original blocks and underwent an ambitious redevelopment scheme — one of the blocks, Block 188, became the Austin Proper Hotel, a combined resort and residence opening in 2020. Ten Eyck spearheaded the initiative’s landscaping component with 20 trees planted in Silva Cells (3x and 4x configurations) on the corner of 2nd Street and Nueces Street, providing both an enhanced pedestrian experience and shade for the outdoor dining situated on the hotel’s 2nd Street entryway.

Silva Cell Trees

The Green Water Treatment Plant redevelopment included numerous blocks of renovation: Across 2nd Street from the Austin Proper Hotel was another series of street trees, planted shortly after those in Silva Cells. The difference in tree growth is clear, with the trees in Silva Cells already providing a shady canopy for walkers and hotel patrons.

Pedestrian Shade

One of the primary objectives of the tree-planting scheme was to offer a shady canopy along the sidewalk, shielding walkers from the hot Texas sun. This shady space also serves as welcoming ambiance for hotel visitors and those dining in the outdoor restaurant plaza.

Installation

New Street Trees

Pervious Pavement and Tree Irrigation

In an effort to utilize the sidewalk runoff in an efficient on-site way and not add stormwater volume to the municipal sewer system, pervious pavement was installed above the Silva Cells. This runoff seeps through the surface into the lightly compacted soil, saturating the soil column and making the trees more resilient to summer drought.

City Green Space

The landscaping at Block 188 was meant to blend with downtown’s natural features, including the adjacent Colorado River (Lady Bird Lake) and its shoreline greenery. By giving street trees every opportunity to grow to healthy maturity thanks to the Silva Cells, the urban street itself mimics the organic features of the neighborhood.

Have a product question or want to talk about a specific project?

Use the form to get in touch.