From Parking Lot to Park: JBC's Role in West End Square’s Transformation

IMAGE COURTESY OF JAMES CORNER FIELD OPERATIONS

West End Square is a transformative urban park developed by the Downtown Dallas Parks Conservancy and designed by James Corner Field Operations, with JBC serving as a key subconsultant for irrigation, soils, and subdrainage design. Formerly a surface parking lot, the site is now the only neighborhood park in Dallas’s West End Historic District—an inviting green space nestled within a dense urban fabric. The park was envisioned as a much-needed oasis in the heart of the city, blending technology, sustainability, and thoughtful design.

IMAGE COURTESY OF JAMES CORNER FIELD OPERATIONS

JBC played a vital role in ensuring the long-term success of the landscape by developing soil systems and irrigation strategies suited to the challenges of an intense urban environment. The compact site presented significant design and construction constraints, with dense utility networks, limited subsurface depth, and a nearly flat grade. To overcome these obstacles, JBC crafted a soil design that maximized root volume under paved surfaces while carefully avoiding underground utilities. The team also designed a subdrainage system with precise grading to ensure reliable flow to existing storm infrastructure, despite the minimal slope available.

IMAGE COURTESY OF JAMES CORNER FIELD OPERATIONS

One of the most critical successes of the project was the inclusion of a robust irrigation system—an often-overlooked feature in public spaces. Given Dallas’s hot, dry climate and the added heat stress of the urban context, this investment was essential to supporting a thriving landscape. JBC’s irrigation design ensures that the diverse plantings and urban canopy have the water they need to grow and endure.

IMAGE COURTESY OF JAMES CORNER FIELD OPERATIONS

West End Square is now a welcoming public space that serves the surrounding neighborhood and downtown Dallas community. The completed park offers much-needed green space, seating, and shade in the West End Historic District, supporting both daily use and programmed activities. It reflects the successful coordination of design and engineering in a complex urban setting.

IMAGES COURTESY OF JAMES CORNER FIELD OPERATIONS

Sustainable Solutions for a Historic Landscape: The Farrand House Project at Dumbarton Oaks

IMAGE COURTESY OF REED HILDERBRAND

At the Dumbarton Oaks Farrand House project in Washington, D.C., JBC collaborated closely with Reed Hilderbrand and Selldorf Architects to provide integrated design for irrigation, soils, and subdrainage systems. This work supported the renovation of the historic greenhouse area and its transformation into an educational outreach center. JBC’s role was foundational in ensuring the site’s landscape systems functioned sustainably and efficiently, both above and below ground.

IMAGE COURTESY OF REED HILDERBRAND

Given the property’s historic significance, JBC employed low-impact strategies that met modern performance standards while respecting the legacy of the historic site. One of the key challenges was the limited water pressure available for irrigation. JBC responded with a carefully calibrated system using low-volume, low-pressure-rated equipment to provide adequate coverage without overtaxing the infrastructure. The team also worked within an exceptionally tight footprint, where space for utilities, planting, and circulation was at a premium.

IMAGE COURTESY OF REED HILDERBRAND

JBC’s soil and subdrainage solutions were designed to optimize fertility and drainage, promoting long-term health and resilience of the landscape. One of the most significant accomplishments was fitting substantial soil volumes into the constrained entry walkway to support growth of new overstory trees. This attention to detail and technical precision will have a lasting impact on the overall health of the landscape and visitor experience of the site.

IMAGE COURTESY OF REED HILDERBRAND

By integrating green infrastructure into a complex historic setting, JBC helped shape a landscape that is as sustainable as it is functional. The result supports the Dumbarton Oaks mission of education and stewardship by enhancing the landscape while establishing new spaces for learning, art, and innovation.

Revitalizing City Ridge in Washington, D.C.: JBC's Expertise in Green Infrastructure at Work

Located in Washington, D.C., City Ridge reimagines the historic Fannie Mae headquarters, transforming it into a dynamic, mixed-use development. With a thoughtful blend of preserved architecture and modern design, the development spans more than nine acres of vibrant green roofs, terraces, and public spaces, all integrated above a network of underground parking and complex infrastructure.

JBC played a key role in bringing City Ridge's landscape vision to life. Our team provided comprehensive site-wide design services for irrigation, soils, and drainage, supporting everything from structural soils beneath paved surfaces to the complex needs of elevated green roof environments.

The scope was as diverse as the site itself. We managed soil specifications across multiple types of soils, including structural, planting, turf, green roof, and bioretention, along with custom blends for street trees and heritage plantings. Working in close collaboration with Michael Vergason Landscape Architects, ParkerRodriguez, and Shalom Baranes Associates, as well as structural, civil, and MEP engineers, we ensured every design detail was aligned to support both aesthetics and long-term plant health.

Coordinating across nine distinct buildings with varying site conditions, JBC approached the challenge of irrigation layout, stub-out locations, and conduit routing with precision.

Across the project, our integrated approach resulted in a resilient and cohesive landscape system that not only meets rigorous performance standards but also enhances the design and overall experience of this urban space.