FORT BEND COUNTY, TX – the Fort Bend County Pedestrian Plaza located between the Historic Courthouse and the Travis Building in Richmond, Texas has been selected as an American Public Works Association (APWA) Texas Chapter Project of the Year for 2015. The award recognizes innovations in technology and management, special efforts to protect the environment during construction, safety performance, and efforts to minimize public inconvenience and adherence to completion date. The Pedestrian Plaza was designed to enhance the visual appeal of the area while creating an inviting environment for pedestrian and community activities in a park-like setting in downtown Richmond. The plaza includes picnic areas with benches and provides an attractive walkway between the two buildings enhancing the existing landscape. Plants native to the Houston Gulf Coast were incorporated for longevity and drought tolerance while an underground water collection system was designed to capture rainwater for use in the irrigation system for both the Travis Building and the Historic Courthouse reducing the need to rely on City utilities. Numerous utility lines were relocated underground to create a more natural setting, and significant improvements to storm drainage were included. The project was a Fort Bend County collaboration with the Design Firm Huitt-Zollars, Inc. and General Contractor Bass Construction. Jamie Knight, Fort Bend County Facilities Director and the project’s consultant, accepted the award on behalf of Fort Bend County at the TPWA Annual Conference in Austin on June 25, 2015. “It’s a rare opportunity to transform a street into a nice space for the public’s use, and to soften the landscape in an established downtown setting. We’re very pleased with the result.” said Jamie Knight.
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