Republic Square

Austin, Texas

Reclaiming vacant space for a livable Midtown

Republic Square was the first of Austin’s historic public squares to be revived during the city’s explosive population growth in the mid-2000s. Before this, the park was underused and uninspired. Design Workshop oversaw a community-led process to ensure the square’s newest iteration would honor Austin’s rich history, while meeting its urgent need for sustainable, flexible and democratic open space. The community’s park vision was realized in the form of an open and welcoming central lawn surrounded by shaded edges activated by programming – public art, a vendor pavilion, flexible seating, lush native plantings and a convenient and pleasant connection point for the city’s Rapid Bus system. Today, Republic Square is a place unlike any other in Austin. As a result of resilient landscape strategies and public-private partnerships, it will remain a healthy public space for years to come.

Services Provided: Master Planning, Public Engagement, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design

Client

City of Austin Parks & Recreation Department