Bank of America Tower Sky Garden | Houston, USA

One of the newest towers to join the skyline of downtown Houston is the Bank of America building. A 24,000 SF sky garden, a shared amenity space that features framing views of the city's iconic skyline and provides a haven in the bustling town, is situated 12 stories above the top of the building's garage structure.

With seating areas under arbors that provide shade from the Houston sun and the glare of the tower's environmentally friendly reflective glass, the garden is designed in an organic shape and offers socializing and stress relief amenities. The Bank of America Tower and its esteemed neighbors, including the Pennzoil building by Philip Johnson, are surrounded by exceptional architecture, giving the impression that one is in a different world. The mounded landscape was created by the skillful composition of insulating blocks and soil to avoid excess structural loading.

The landscape architect incorporated a rainwater collection system for reuse in landscape irrigation when designing this garden. All trees, shrubs, ground cover, and grasses were chosen and planned with water needs in mind. Local bird and bee populations are attracted by the planting plan, which focuses on native species and species well-suited to low-water roof applications. It also complements the roof's sculptural topography. The planting plan also placed plants strategically on the property to maximize irrigation effectiveness. In the dense urban environment, meandering pathways pass through ornamental grasses that offer a visual escape to nature, while arbors have been placed in specific locations based on daylight studies.