The July/August 2011 edition explores the theme of “placemaking” through feature projects designed to foster a sense of a greater whole instead of just a single building. Such a comprehensive approach to architecture requires a concerted effort to understand what works best for a neighborhood, an urban center, or an isolated development. Feature articles spotlight the Wylie Municipal Complex, the Omni Hotel and Residences in Fort Worth, the City of Grand Prairie’s The Summit, the Lora Jean Kilroy Visitor and Education Center at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston’s Bayou Bend, and the Byrne-Reed House in Austin. Other articles include a commentary on the loss of the idyllic greenspace in front of the Kimbell Art Museum now that construction is underway to expand the museum, plans for new bayfront development in Corpus Christi, and the architectural improvements brought to tiny Albany due to its up-and-coming arts scene.
