DALLAS, Texas - The HOK Planning Group recently captured the 2000 Dallas Urban Award for its design of the Dallas City Center Project. The central business district plan was inspired by George Kessler's 1912 Plan for Dallas and the "City Beautiful" movement of the 1920s.

The focus of the project is to increase pedestrian traffic to the area and improve in vehicular circulation ultimately leading to increased retail and office activities at the street level. A new atmosphere for the CBD is created through the use of special paving, landscaping, lighting, colorful street furnishings, public art pieces and unique shade structures. Construction is set to begin in the Fall of 2001.