The 162-acre Hall Office Park (HOP) in Frisco has set a new standard for quality mixed-use development in the rapidly growing North Dallas Toll way area. The Dallas Business Journal named HOP the Best New Office Development for 2000, and the Frisco Chamber of Commerce touts the complex as a cultural amenity in its corporate recruiting efforts. And in Frisco, the second-fastest­ growing city in the nation, city leaders present Hall Office Park to prospective developers as an example of the quality they seek from new projects.

 

Landscape Architect's role in developing/implementing the project

When fully developed, HOP will accommodate approximately 4 million square feet of offices, with ancillary restaurants, retail and mixed uses at major intersections and sites abutting the Toll way. The landscape architect joined the project team to design entries, edges and open spaces. When the landscape architect presented strategies for using necessary flood detention as open space amenities, however, project owner Hall Financial called for a restudy of the entire master plan. The landscape architect and architect then led a reevaluation of land use and open space distribution throughout the project. With a new master plan, the landscape architect collaborated with the civil engineer to develop an overall water feature/drainage design, providing the civil engineer with specific recommendations for retention lakes, overflow structures, weirs and other major drainage system components.

 

The landscape architect continues to collaborate with HOP's on-staff art consultant to integrate art in the landscape. Artworks draw pedestrians into the walks and plazas around the buildings and lakes, and Hall Financial continually adds to the multi-million dollar art collection that helps to distinguish HOP from competing properties.

 

Successful resolution of the project's program

The client wanted a unique office environment, one set apart from the many completed and proposed office parks in the area. Prior to the landscape architect's involvement, substantial on-site detention had been proposed as back-of-house infrastructure, with no value added as an amenity. In master planning, the landscape architect developed strategies to use that required detention as the spine of an extensive open space system. The master plan's key design objective was to create a varied and layered experience for visitors, so the lake system and most of the passive open space fronts public rights-of-way (most importantly Gaylord Parkway, the main boulevard through the development). This presents a visual front door to visitors traversing the park to the mid- and high-rise office buildings. For office user's the elimination of all vehicular circulation between the buildings and open space invites free pedestrian access to the outdoor amenities.

 

The landscape architect collaborated with the art consultant throughout the development to showcase a significant art collection. From the point of entry at Gaylord Parkway and the Dallas North Toll way, both landscape and buildings frame and direct views to sculptures. Placement encourages pedestrian involvement and enjoyment via a system of walks and plazas around the buildings and lakes, anchored by the Texas Sculpture Garden at Hall Financials headquarters building. The Texas Sculpture Garden is a walking circuit with more than 30 significant artworks by Texas artists, and is the largest single outdoor collection devoted exclusively to Texas artists.

 

"Urban Streets" provide vehicular access to parking on the far side of the buildings from the lakes and open spaces. These streets suggest plazas, with increasing intensity of detail and finish in pavements and plantings approaching each building entry. Patterns of pavers and architectural concrete distinguish parking for visitors and the disabled, while pedestrian connections from garages to building entries borrow patterns replicating the stone flooring of associated lobbies. The urban streets begin a decompression for the office user. The effect continues through lobbies providing views of the lakeside, accessible via a series of walks, paths and outdoor retreats.

 

Impact and significance of the project on the local community and surroundings

HOP has become an educational, cultural and civic amenity for the city of Frisco, a favorite destination for schools and tour companies that conduct guided trips to experience the park's art, lakes and outdoor spaces. For Hall Financial, HOP represents the successful creation of a unique workplace environment that is lauded for its premier open space and cultural amenities.

 

Special or unique solutions to unusual problems or budgetary constraints

The landscape architect drew maximum value from detention requirements, turning flood control and retention lakes into centerpieces of the open space system. Developing overall grading concepts ensured quality views across lakes and to the buildings and art collection. The landscape architect led the collaborative design process for key infrastructure elements, including a sculptural overflow intake in the lower lakes. The team handled additional runoff and detention behind some of the garages with an elegant combination of grading and crushed basalt. HOP is truly an address for the next generation of office tenant - one that relies upon an intimate relationship with the outdoor environment coupled with cultural, social and educational amenities to attract the best and brightest talent for their business.