Neighborhood parks have long been filled with playing children, moms with strollers and high-speed joggers, but as communities age and new retirees search for outdoor recreation, some municipalities are recognizing it's time for parks to grow up. This month, read how RVi Houston is helping the Greenspoint District create Ida Gaye Gardens - a park committed to promoting health in senior citizens.
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This month Longhorn Village received a 3-star-rating with Austin Energy’s Green Building Program, making it the first Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Central Texas to achieve a rating designation. Developed by CRSA in association with the Ex-Students’ Association of the University of Texas, the community embodies the Hill Country setting while being walkable and ADA accessible. Complementing the architecture of Rees Associates, Inc. and Kipp+Flores Architects, RVi’s sensitive site planning preserved more than half the site in an undisturbed, natural condition and reduced the impervious cover to less than allowed, resulting in a great return for the residents and the environment. As planner and landscape architect, RVi provided continuity and vision throughout the design and construction process, helping to ensure that design, infrastructure (utilities) and environment complemented each other. RVi additionally aided in the Green Building program through on-site recycling of vegetation, preservation of existing vegetation, water conservation through the use of native species and a technologically advanced irrigation control system, and the use of sustainable materials.
This month, RVi congratulates Chris Patterson on his recent promotion to Principal. 2009 was a year of growth and development for RVi Houston. After settling in to a new location early in the year, the staff size doubled and new projects brought a steady stream of life into the office. Chris' leadership and management of the Houston office helped drive these recent successes and his promotion to Principal further ensures RVi Houston's place as a leader in planning and landscape architecture in the Houston market.
