The Domain in Austin is a new retail center built on 57 acres of reclaimed land. The property has 700,000 sq. ft. of retail shops, 75,000 sq. ft. of leased office space, and 390 residential units. The buildings are organized along drivable streets and pedestrian plazas.

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The new direction meant costly parking structures, improved public amenities, wide, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, public art and trees. Endeavor and the city struck a deal to facilitate these goals and help underwrite the costs.

The edges of the plaza are framed by 14-ft. tall pedestrian-scale metal halide pole luminaries (70-watt metal halide). The wall sconces were supplied by the tenant.

The Domain

The result is the former 57-acre corporate site in Northwest Austin, with its grove of enormous live oak trees, is now mixed-use development featuring 700,000 sq. ft. of retail shops, 75,000 sq. ft. of leased office space and 75,000 sq. ft. of office and residential space.

Trees remain an integral part of the site, giving it the appearance of a mature neighborhood. In designing lighting for the streets, building fa?????ades, paseos, public art and landscaping, The Lighting Practice treated the trees and architecture as sculptures. Low-wattage ceramic metal halide was used to give streets and structures a soft, warm glow.

Paseos link pedestrian pathways to the parking structures. Recessed compact fluorescent lamps, 32-watts, fluorescent downlights and metal halide uplights keep the passageways bright. Wall sconces are by a local artist and lit by compact fluorescent lamps.

Tree canopies were uplighted like carved ceilings to create virtual rooms.

Although LEED certification was not sought, this lighting design for this project meets LEED requirements for Environmental Zone 4. The project has received an award of Merit from the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America.

Phase 1 of the project opened in 2007. Phase 2 opened in 2010. Even in the current down-market, The Domain continues to be leased and busy.

The project was planned to integrate several large existing oak trees, giving the streets and pathways a meandering quality. The lighting designers treated the oaks as sculptures, using one or two 70-watt metal halide luminaires per tree for up lighting, and 39w Par30 metal halides to cast light down the trees and onto buildings and hardscapes. Stainless steel hardware secures fixtures to the trees. Decorative low-voltage pendants are 35-watt MR-16.

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)

In May 2005, the Austin City Council adopted a transit-oriented development (TOD) ordinance to take advantage of expanding development created by the construction of the new Capital Metro MetroRail commuter line between Austin and Leander. Major stops along the line were projected to grow as centers of retail and residential growth and jobs, self-contained and connected communities, as opposed to following the old model of development of far flung suburban communities.

Austin has seven TODs, six north of Town Lake and one south of the river, all connected by planned high-speed transit systems. While there have been delays in MetroRail, Capital Metro recently reported plans to begin service sometime after March 15, 2010.

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Streets are lit by metal halide luminaire, 150w MH, on 22-ft.custom poles with signage. The pole spacing is staggered on curved streets and paired on straight streets to respond to the roadway contours.

Project Team

Developers
Simon Property Group
Endeavor Real Estate Group
Centro Development LLC (Residences)

Architects
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Landscape Architect
J. Robert Anderson Landscape Architect

Lighting Designer
The Lighting Practice
Philadelphia, Dallas
IIDA Award of Merit for
the Domain project

General Contractor
Beck Group

Lighting Supplier
Techlite Corp.

The color and texture of building facades and streetscape elements are accented by adjustable 39w PAR20 metal halide luminaries (on pivots), giving the property a lively nighttime appearance.

About The Lighting Practice

The Lighting Practice was founded in 1989. The 20-year-old firm is a leader in lighting design, specializing in sustainable lighting for public spaces, retail, healthcare, hospitality, and education environments. With offices in Philadelphia and Dallas, a team of talented lighting designers have created lighting strategies for notable projects that include the Capitol Dome (Washington, D.C.), Avenue of the Arts (Philadelphia), White Rock Lake Park Lighting Masterplan (Dallas, Texas), Indiranagar Retail Center (Bangalore, India), and the Kempinski Hotel (Accra, Ghana). For more information on The Lighting Practice, please visit www.thelightingpractice.com.

Lighting Vendors

Pole Lights
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Building Lighting
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Landscape Lighting
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