This Houston transformer block is an existing power sub-station in downtown, adjacent to the new basketball arena and a new 1200 room Hilton hotel. Located in the midst of a growing convention center district that is expected to see over 3 million visitors each year, the substation is highly visible.

Center Point Energy hired the landscape architect to screen the site as much as possible. The landscape architect's main challenge on this project was to deal with the nature of the site itself. In general, power stations in the vicinity of people and commerce are considered unappealing. This one happened to be located in a rapidly developing area of downtown activity. Therefore, the landscape architect needed to creatively consider the pedestrian traffic that this site would see, and determine how best to downplay the features of the power station.

In a spirited attempt to take the project's objective in another direction, the landscape architect proposed to not conceal the power station but rather to reveal it. This proposed plan takes advantage of the block's central location and transforms the block into a fascinating light park for people to walk through and experience.

The perimeter brick wall around the power station was heightened by the addition of metal grates to support LED light columns, which feature a constantly changing light display. With the passing of time and seasons, the light show is designed to change. The block is a perfect place for people to gather before and after events to watch the light show.

As for the block's perimeter, the landscape architect created a true 'streetscape' feel. Pedestrians walking on the spacious 8' wide sidewalk are buffered from city traffic by planter beds or decomposed granite gravel beds that reach to the curb. The beds contain Bald Cypress and Nuttall Oak trees and a mix of lush understory planting including Rudbeckia, Iris, Blue Daze, and various ornamental

grasses. The interior side of the sidewalk is flanked as well by a bed of mixed planting, highlighted at night by the light from the light columns mounted above. The landscape architect specified various colored pavers for the sidewalk, including blue, tan and limestone, laid out in an organized patterns. All of the elements of this walkway design come together to create a comfortable and easy space to walk through.

This project is very unique in that the designer took on a site typically considered to be an eyesore and chose to celebrate it rather than conceal it. The landscape architect successfully elevated the substation into an attractive and interesting space for visitors. The newly re-designed block has since become an important point of interest and amenity to downtown Houston.