November 20, 2006
THE WOODLANDS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY AND TOWN CENTER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT UNVEIL PLANS FOR WATERWAY SQUARE
U.S. Senator John Cornyn Joins in Landmark Announcement
At a special event today, U.S. Senator John Cornyn joined executives from The Woodlands Development Company and Town Center Improvement District in the “unveiling” of plans for Waterway Square, a major urban park now under construction in the heart of The Woodlands Town Center, the “downtown” of The Woodlands, according to Alex Sutton, president of The Woodlands Development Company.
Waterway Square is located on The Woodlands Waterway®, a 1.4-mile long water feature, transportation corridor and linear park that links the urban residences, office buildings, shopping, dining and entertainment venues in The Woodlands Town Center. It is located just east of the Waterway Avenue Bridge and the AAA Four Diamond The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.
“Waterway Square will provide a pedestrian-friendly central gathering place and hub of activity that will enliven The Woodlands Waterway®, and create a spectacular view for employees in the surrounding office buildings, those living in urban residences on The Waterway, and those visiting, shopping and dining in Town Center,” Sutton said. “We've hired designers that are renowned for creating spectacular public places and given them the best space available on The Waterway, plus the most coveted natural elements to work with in Texas – plenty of water and trees.”
The project encompasses a one-acre public plaza with unique water features and greenspaces. “Water jets, waterfalls and cascades are designed to create a variety of displays and effects ranging from the subtle flow of water over a stone waterwall to dancing columns of water, to “boomer” jets that can shoot water 60 feet into the air,” said Alan Ward, principal of Sasaki Associates, Inc., designers of the park. Sasaki is also the designer of the 2008 Olympic Green in Beijing, China.
“Fountain water, lighting and music systems are choreographed and programmed to create a full range of effects from quiet to exuberant,” Ward said. “Taking advantage of the site's topography, the plaza is designed with upper and lower terraces that relate to surrounding streets and The Waterway. The difference in elevation is accentuated by a 120-foot long waterwall, flanked by stairs and stepped water cascades at each side of the Square. A waterfall drops from an upper fountain to a pool along the lower terrace. An interactive fountain, designed for water play by children and adults alike, will be composed of 30 water jets set into a fanciful mosaic pavement design by renowned artist Dixie Friend Gay.”
The water features were designed by Aquatic Design and Engineering, Inc. of Oakland, FL, designers of several major water features for Disney Resorts and Orlando City Hall in Orlando, FL. Waterway Square will also include a grove of shade trees where people may gather for outdoor dining and relaxation.
Construction of the park is being funded by the Town Center Improvement District, the Town Center Owners Association (TCOA) and The Woodlands Development Company.
“Waterway Square is one of the most significant developments to take place in The Woodlands Town Center,” said Frank W. Robinson, president of Town Center Improvement District. “We anticipate that Waterway Square will be a primary destination for visitors and businesses alike. It truly will have a world-class look and feel and be one of the most unique venues in Greater Houston and beyond.”
Scheduled for completion in early 2008, the public plaza will be surrounded by Class A office and retail buildings with restaurants, upscale shops and nightlife, designed by Elkus Manfredi of Boston, MA, Lucas Associates Architects of Baltimore, MD and Street-Works LLC of White Plains, NY.
The Woodlands Development Company (TWDC) has already begun construction of 24 Waterway Avenue, which at 13 stories and 308,206 square feet is the largest mixed use speculative office building constructed by TWDC to date. The Elkus Manfredi design includes 268,263 square feet of office space and 39,943 of retail on the ground floor overlooking The Woodlands Waterway®. In-building parking, high quality finishes and construction materials, and panoramic views of Waterway Square and The Woodlands Waterway will distinguish this building, planned for completion and occupancy in early 2008. Leasing is underway for both the office and retail space.
Also planned is 20 Waterway Avenue, consisting of two separate specialty restaurant buildings with street access to Waterway Avenue, terraces overlooking Waterway Square and patios on The Woodlands Waterway. The buildings are being designed by Lucas Associates.
Future plans for The Waterway Square District include two more Class A office buildings – a nine-story building and a six-story building - an outdoor amphitheater in the public plaza, a luxury condo tower and boutique hotel.
Three other mixed use buildings totaling 36,123 square feet are underway or recently completed in the Waterway Square District. The largest of these is 25 Waterway Avenue, a 14,000-square-foot, three-story building with retail on the ground level and two levels of parking above. 221B Baker St. Pub & Grill has a 6,500-square-foot restaurant under construction in the building, and Chocolata has leased 3,830 of restaurant space. 25 Waterway Avenue is located adjacent to The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel parking garage at the southwest corner of Waterway Avenue and Lake Robbins Drive.
Adjoining 25 Waterway Avenue is 1599 Lake Robbins Drive, a 10,000-square-foot, two-story building with retail space on the ground floor and office space on the second level. Both 25 Waterway and 1599 Lake Robbins are nearing completion and leasing is well underway, with 75 percent of the space committed.
1701 Lake Robbins, a 12,123-square-foot, two-story mixed use building located at the corner of Lake Robbins Drive and Six Pines Drive, was completed in late summer and is 100 percent leased and occupied by Fidelity Investments and a Taco Milagro restaurant. 21 Waterway Avenue, a seven-story, 103,000-square-foot mixed use building was completed earlier this year and is 98 percent leased. Major office tenants include Wells Fargo, Smith Barney, Cargill, Bank of America and BusinesSuites. Major retail tenants include The Goose's Acre and Churrascos.
The Woodlands is a 28,000-acre master-planned community located 27 miles north of downtown Houston. It is a project of The Woodlands Development Company, a limited partnership of Morgan Stanley and General Growth Properties, Inc.
Waterway Square Fact Sheet
The Woodlands, Texas
Location: Waterway Square is a major urban park located just east of the AAA Four Diamond The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center on The Woodlands Waterway® in The Woodlands Town Center, the “downtown” of The Woodlands 28,000-acre master-planned community.
The Waterway Square District encompasses the office buildings, shops, restaurants, entertainment venues, greenspaces and urban residences within the area bordered by Lake Robbins Drive on the north, Timberloch Place on the south, Six Pines Drive to the west and Woodloch Forest Drive to the east.
Description: One-acre public plaza with unique water features that take advantage of
the site's terraced topography:
• 120-foot long, 10-foot high water wall, flanked by stairs and stepped water cascades at each side of the Square.
• A waterfall drops from an upper fountain to a pool along the lower terrace.
• Water jets, waterfalls and cascades are designed to create a variety of displays and effects ranging from the subtle flow of water over a stone water wall to dancing columns of water, to “boomer” jets that can shoot water 60 feet in the air.
• Fountains choreographed to music with colored lights at night.
• Seating area under a grove of shade trees for outdoor dining and people watching.
• Children's interactive fountain with fanciful mosaic artwork designed by renowned artist, Dixie Friend Gay.
• Park designed by Sasaki Associates of Watertown, MA, designers of the 2008 Olympic Green in Beijing, China and other notable projects.
• Water features designed by Aquatic Design and Engineering, Inc. of Oakland, FL, designers of several major water features for Disney Resorts in Orlando and Orlando City Hall, among others.
• Park jointly funded by The Woodlands Development Company, Town Center Improvement District and Town Center Owners Association.
• Planned opening of the park and the largest mixed use building, 24 Waterway Avenue, is late 2007 or early 2008.
• Surrounded by Class A office and retail buildings with restaurants, upscale shops and nightlife, designed by Elkus Manfredi of Boston, MA, Lucas Associates Architects of Baltimore, MD and Street-Works LLC of White Plains, NY.
• Plans for the near future include the addition of an outdoor amphitheater in the plaza, plus two additional Class A office buildings - a nine-story building and a six-story building - a luxury condo tower and a boutique hotel on the square.
Waterway Square Fact Sheet
Mixed use buildings underway or recently completed in the Waterway Square District:
24 Waterway Avenue
• Planned for completion in late 2007 or early 2008
• Largest mixed use, speculative office building constructed to date by The Woodlands Development Company
• 13-story Class A office building
• 308,206 total square feet – 268,263 office and 39,943 retail
• In-building parking
• High quality finishes and construction materials
• Restaurant and retail space on the ground floor
• Panoramic views of Waterway Square and The Woodlands Waterway®
• Designed by Elkus Manfredi of Boston, MA
20 Waterway Avenue
• Two separate specialty restaurant buildings
• Street access to Waterway Avenue, terraces overlooking Waterway Square and patios on The Woodlands Waterway
• Designed by Lucas Associates of Baltimore, MD
25 Waterway Avenue
• 14,000-square-foot, three-story building
• Retail on ground level, two levels of parking above
• 221B Baker St. Pub & Grill has leased 6,500 square feet for a restaurant in the building, and Chocolata has leased 3,830 square feet of restaurant space
• Located adjacent to The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel parking garage
• Designed by Elkus Manfredi of Boston, MA
1599 Lake Robbins Drive
• 10,000-square-foot, two-story building
• Retail space on ground floor and office space on the second level
• Leasing of 25 Waterway Avenue and 1599 Lake Robbins Drive is 75% committed
• Designed by Elkus Manfredi of Boston, MA
1701 Lake Robbins Drive
• 12,123-square-foot, two-story mixed use building
• Completed in September, 2006 and 100 percent leased
• Tenants are Fidelity Investments and Taco Milagro restaurant
• Designed by Street-Works of White Plains, NY
Waterway Square Fact Sheet
21 Waterway Avenue
• 103,000-square-foot, seven-story mixed use building
• Completed earlier this year and 98% leased
• Major office tenants include Wells Fargo, Smith Barney, Cargill, Bank of America and BusinesSuites. Restaurants include The Goose's Acre and Churrascos.
• Designed by Lucas Associates of Baltimore, MD
The information contained in this document is based on plans and projections for Waterway Square in The Woodlands Town Center. All references to dates, features and specifications for future development are proposed and subject to change without notice.
