AUSTIN, November 26, 2007 – TBG Partners, Texas’ largest landscape architecture and planning firm, is providing character development and landscape architectural services for the redevelopment of Austin’s historic Republic Square, located in the southwest quadrant of downtown Austin. TBG’s master plan first and foremost addresses Republic Square’s original intent – to be a gathering place and urban park for all Austin residents and visitors.
TBG’s vision for Republic Square includes preserving, enhancing and activating the vibrant green space, protecting the Auction Oaks and making the space more functional for daily use as well as event-based usage. TBG is working closely with a number of civic and private organizations, including Republic Square Partners group, which includes representatives of the Downtown Austin Alliance, DANA, the GSA and Federal Court, Ballet Austin, the Austin Museum of Art, the City of Austin, the Austin Parks Foundation and others, as well as project stakeholders, in a collaborative effort to develop a site design that incorporates the park into existing, renovated and the developing urban fabric.
Scheduled to break ground in 2008, phase one of the Republic Square revitalization will function as a catalyst for future growth and planned improvements. TBG’s vision resets the park, allowing for more flexible utility of the space, creating a hub of activity and preserving and enhancing the site’s history.
TBG designed phase one around preservation, enhancement and historic interpretation of the site’s famous Auction Oaks, creating a “sense of place.” The goal is to resolve the park’s untapped potential, lack of cohesion and context, yet at the same time preserving its historic integrity. Grading will allow for a natural sloped lawn amphitheatre and stage that will set off the space and encourage its use for events. TBG is also enhancing the landscape with a variety of native and adaptive plants and local materials to promote the local distinctiveness and timeless design. Once renovations are complete, the park will link to nearby new and established developments, including condominium high rises, the Austin Museum of Art, the U.S. Postal Service mixed-use redevelopment, a new federal courthouse and the Austin Ballet.

“Republic Square is uniquely situated in urban open space, and it is our mission to utilize this space as much as possible,” said Daniel Woodroffe, principal at TBG. “Currently, the park is underutilized and does not appropriately tell the ‘story’ of the place. When complete, it will be a place where downtown employees, residents and visitors will gather to meet, eat, relax and enjoy Austin’s downtown culture. It is our vision that Republic Square, while retaining its historical value, will be the city square of downtown Austin once again.”
The City of Austin was “born” under the oak trees of Republic Square on August 1, 1839, when 306 lots of the newly-surveyed, square-mile town were sold at auction. Excluded from the auction were four unnamed public squares preserved as gathering places for Austin residents. Republic Square, the most prominent of the four original city squares, has endured many reincarnations over the years, including being paved over as a parking lot in the 1950s.

About TBG Partners
As Texas’ largest landscape architecture and planning firm, TBG designs mixed-use and residential communities, corporate campuses, civic buildings, hotels, resorts, healthcare and educational facilities, city parks and historic sites. With 22 LEED Accredited Professionals on staff, TBG works to incorporate sustainable design principles into each project. Established in 1987, TBG is now staffed by over 130 professionals in Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. For more information, please visit www.tbg-inc.com.

About Austin Parks Foundation
Since 1992, Austin Parks Foundation has initiated, promoted, and facilitated physical improvements, new programming, and greater community involvement for Austin's parks. Each year, Austin Parks Foundation generates hundreds of thousands of dollars in volunteer time, in-kind donations, and financial support for city parks. For more information, please visit www.austinparks.org.