The hardscape for the entry plaza of the five-acre Shell Woodcreek campus in Houston is concentric circles of Venetian Gold, Juparana St. Cecelia and Gris Carmel granite, all quarried in Espirito Santo, Brazil. Venetian Gold has coarse-grain yellow and light brown crystals; St. Cecelia granite has deep yellow coarse-grain, with both brown and black tones; and Gris Carmel has yellow and light grey crystals. At the center of the plaza is a fountain programmed for dramatic water displays. Concrete pavers provide vehicle access to the ceremonial entry. " Natchez' crepemyrtles and benches ring the fountain. A row of live oak in matching tree grates frame the drive. The lawn areas are Seashore Paspalum.

The one place most of us spend more time other than at home is at work. Corporate suburban campuses are changing or creating their spaces to feel more like communities with outdoor amenities: green spaces, trails, seating, dining, event lawns, shade and even recreational activities. Encouraging health and well being, office properties are being designed to offer and invite employees to interact outside.

Shell Woodcreek, certified LEED Gold, is a nearly five-acre campus in Houston's bustling Energy Corridor. Given the latest trends and shifts in corporate amenities, Shell has completed a master plan, redesigned and renovated the original two phases, and is developing the next two phases of this campus. Supported by Shell's mission, the design vision was to create outdoor environments and places that are extensions of the buildings where people can gather. In support of Shell's wellness program, the design promotes activity/exercise in everyday life.

The 48,000 sq. ft. roof deck has 2'x 2' pavers (Hanover) that match the terrazo mother-of-pearl pavers between the planters on the plaza. The pavers are atop waterproof pedestals. "Strong Wind' umbrellas are anchored under the pavers on the roof deck. From the stainless steel deck railing employees look down on a hardscape of rich and colorful bands of Woodridge Quartzite (slate tile), which transitions abruptly into an ipe deck by the lake's edge. Moveable tables and chairs offer a pleasant alternative to the indoor cafeteria seating. Specimen bald cypress trees provide shade and privacy.

The goals and challenges of the design were one in the same. The company wanted a soft, warm design that preserved the feel of nature, a relaxed and comfortable work environment, but maintaining a corporate sophistication with the use of extensive hardscape. The design enhances the natural beauty of the site with native grasses, adaptive plantings, prairie plants, wildflowers and large-scale reforested areas. The landscape is watered via drip irrigation. Site amenities include courtyards, seating nodes, trails, pedestrian connections, a scenic roof deck, a waterfall and rock feature that connect to planted detention ponds, limited areas of manicured turf, and a warm palette of locally and regionally produced sustainable materials and natural stone paving.

The central hardscape pattern is 4"x 8" concrete pavers (Pavestone) in a herringbone pattern and four colorful hues: "Metro Yellow', "Schlegal Tan', "Holland Tan' and "Buff'. Leuders limestone edging defines the planters, interspersed by 1'x 2' terrazo pavers (Wausau) with inlaid mother-of-pearl accents. All the hardscape is atop a concrete subbase for long-term stability. Trench drains border the sinuous planter strip on both sides.

Phase III Expansion
The Phase III campus expansion included adding two new office buildings, and a parking garage for two existing two buildings. Reforestation and soft curvilinear forms drove the selection of natural materials to enhance and define the campus. There are large areas of native grasses and prairie plants throughout the site, particularly as a perimeter buffer, along roadways and around lakes. Areas around the site perimeter are more native and more heavily reforested. Areas to the center of the site have native and adaptive landscape species.

A walkway to one of the campus buildings crosses over an ipe bridge at the lake's upper falls. Slabs of stacked Cheyenne stone border the stream and create the waterfalls. The streambed is Cobble Creek boulders, with large Cheyenne boulders placed within the stream and on the decomposed granite leading to the water's edge. In this spring photo, Agapanthus is in full bloom.

A formal entry drive and "dancing' fountains lead to the ceremonial visitor entry. A large lake is the focus of the courtyard, the primary view and employee-use area. A roof garden, a transition between the garage and employee entry, is a secondary outdoor space.

Woodridge Quartzite tiles lead employees to the main building entrance. The pinks and red hues indicate varying amounts of iron oxide. The other colors are the result of mineral impurities. Between the Quartzite stone and pavers is a band of "Calypso Coral' stone pavers and "Rainbow' iron tree grates. The Texas Leuders limestone seat walls have ipe seats with a rich oil finish.

Warm Terazzo pavers with mother-of-pearl set the stage for the materials selection, as they encompass natural shell and a yellow color, in keeping with Shell's corporate logo. The 1'x 2' pavers create a directional, linear patter on the bridge across the lake and define walks to building entries. A 1-ft. wide strip of rich brown Sienna River Rock outlines the walks and creates a band for the lighting fixtures. A quartzite tile is interspersed with coral stone pavers in a linear fashion that echoes patterns of the building's detail, while adding a subtle sparkle. These stones derived from different sources, which required coordinating the cut width to work within the pattern.

A 3/4-acre lake is the dominant feature of the over two-acre courtyard. Large "Cheyenne' rock slabs create the lake edge. Nine fountains and "Cheyenne' and "Cobble Creek' boulders create the dramatic waterfall for the lower detention pond.

Central Fountain
The central fountain is programmed for dramatic water displays, but is also used as a pedestrian plaza. Three types of granite create the pattern of concentric circles: Venetian Gold, Juparana St. Cecelia, and Gris Carmel. The fountain is surrounded by hand cut benches of Texas Leuders limestone capped with ipe seats with a rich oil finish. "Natchez' crepemyrtles shade each bench.

To meet the vehicular requirements of the visitor drive, a blend of four pavers in a 4x8-inch herringbone pattern ("Metro Yellow', "Schlegal Tan', "Holland Tan' and buff) play beautifully with the warm color palette. These pavers surround the fountain to create the entry drop off. A custom "Rainbow' trench grate circles the fountain to catch overspray, and a row of live oak in matching tree grates frame the drive. Areas of lawn are reinforced with fiber soil, unobtrusively creating fire truck access. Between the lawn and building is a grove of native cedar elms.

A 1-ft. wide strip of rich brown Sienna River Rock outlines the walks and creates a band for the lighting fixtures.

A covered walkway separates the formal visitor entry from the employee courtyard. The 3/4-acre lake is the dominant feature of the over 2-acre courtyard, the primary view and use space for employees on the campus. The cafeteria has a view of the upper level of the lake and low water jets. An ipe deck with 12 specimen bald cypress trees offers "Catena' tables and chairs for lunchtime.

The roof deck and garden is a transition between the garage and employee entrance, and a secondary outdoor space that offers a "Sure Putt' putting green. Bands of native prairie plants and grasses, along with adaptive species such as "Prostrate' juniper and rosemary, edge the curvilinear paver walk.

Waterfall
Cheyenne boulders and large Cheyenne stone slabs and Cobble Creek boulders create a dramatic waterfall for the lower level detention pond. An ipe bridge, an extension of a walkway to one of the campus buildings, crosses over the upper falls. Cheyenne rock slabs create the lake edge of the lower pool and allow the necessary freeboard for water storage at times the fountain is shut-off. Decomposed granite and bull rock add finer detailing to the lake and fountains.

An ipe covered walkway crosses the 32,000 sq. ft. lake. Native "Pickerelweed' Pontaderia cordata line the edges of the shore. Native slash pine, cedar elm, red oak, water oak, yaupon, Turks Cap and American "Beautiberry' surround the lake.

Sidewalks of scored concrete connect building to building and allow movement through the courtyard in addition to pathways within the building envelopes. Native slash pine, cedar elm, red oak, water oak, yaupon, Turks Cap and American "Beautiberry' surround the lake and create a reforestation area and a backdrop between the lake and buildings. The lake peninsula is covered with the native Gulf Coast Muhly grass.

Granite accents in the employee courtyard contrast with the stainless column and wood soffit of the roof deck. The "island peninsula' (right) is planted with native trees, native Gulf Coast Muhly grass and evergreen bicolor iris.

Roof Deck
The granite is repeated at the base of the grand circular stairway leading up to the roof deck. The primary material of the roof deck is a 2'x2' pavers on a waterproof pedestals. The pavers match the Terrazo mother-of-pearl interspersed on the ground plane hardscaping. Bands of native prairie plants and grasses, along with adaptive species such as "Prostrate' juniper and rosemary echo the curvilinear forms of the roof deck. Strong Wind Uhlmann umbrellas are anchored under the pavers on the roof deck to provide shade to the Parc Vue tables and chairs. Purple flowering lilac Chastetree are planted in 72-inch oval cast concrete Dune Series landscape containers.

On the site's perimeter is a detention lake. A jogging trail circles the lake in the shade of native tree and understory species that extend down the lake slopes. At the water level native aquatic species meet wetland mitigation requirements and replace critical habitat for birds and other wildlife, a mission of Shell's Campus Environmental Committee. Repair of transition areas to existing site perimeter and previous construction phases included replacement of native grass and prairie plantings, tree replacement and sidewalk connections.

Recruiting and retaining the best employees, means offering a superior work environment. Shell is one of many corporations embracing this philosophy. Creating these quality spaces, enhancing the work experience and positively affecting people's lives is why we're passionate about landscape architecture.

Shell Woodcreek Phase III Team List
Building Architect: HOK, Houston office
Civil/Structural Engineer: Walter P. Moore
Developer: Hines Interests
Fountains: Aquatic Design & Engineering, Orlando
General Contractor: D E Harvey Builders
Interior Architect: Gensler, Houston office
Landscape Architect: Clark Condon Associates
Landscape Contractor: B&D Contractors, Inc.
MEP Engineer: I.A. Naman + Associates