Designing for Tomorrow’s Climate: Reimagining Houston’s Main Street Promenade as a Public Works Corridor for People and Resilience
When
Where
Hosted By
Panelists
Walter P Moore Panelists:
Heather Guillen, PE, ENV SP
Additional Panelists:
| Cassie Hoeprich | Director of Planning & Economic Development | Downtown Redevelopment Authority |
Synopsis
As cities face hotter summers, denser redevelopment, and increasing demands on the public right-of-way, public works leaders are being challenged to deliver infrastructure that performs, cools, and connects. The Main Street Promenade in Downtown Houston demonstrates how a public–private partnership between Downtown Houston+ and the City of Houston transformed a high-traffic transit and utility corridor into a resilient public space that reduces ambient temperatures by up to 5°F.
The project overcame complex underground constraints by layering urban forestry, green stormwater systems, and custom shade structures within a narrow right-of-way—all while maintaining utility access and ADA compliance. Attendees will learn how public works professionals can apply these strategies to retrofit existing streets, coordinate across departments, and balance maintenance, mobility, and climate resilience in the heart of the city.
Learning Objectives
- Retrofit existing streets and corridors to integrate green infrastructure, shade, and cooling within constrained public rights-of-way.
- Coordinate across city departments and partner agencies to design, fund, and maintain shared-use corridors that balance function and livability.
- Apply climate-resilient design and maintenance practices that extend the life and performance of urban infrastructure under changing conditions.