dwg.

03/14/2025

dwg. Turns 15!

Fifteen years of pushing boundaries, reimagining public space, and designing places where people and nature thrive. From Austin to London, our work is just getting started.

Read more about our journey and what’s next.

Fifteen years ago, dwg. was founded with a bold vision: to redefine the role of landscape architecture in creating cities that are more sustainable, equitable, and inspiring. What began as an ambitious idea has evolved into a practice dedicated to challenging conventions, reimagining public space, a...

02/26/2025

St. John Encampment Commons — once a heat-trapping parking lot — has been transformed into a thriving green space that honors its deep cultural history while supporting biodiversity and community connection. Featured on Central Texas Gardener, this episode highlights how the site, once home to the historic St. John Encampment, has been reimagined through design and ecological restoration.

With insights from Daniel Woodroffe, President & Founder of dwg., and Cassie Gowan, Design Director, the episode explores how landscape architecture can reshape urban spaces. Dr. Molly Beth Malcolm, Executive Vice Chancellor of Operations and Public Affairs of Austin Community College District (retired), reflects on the park’s role in honoring the past while building a sustainable future.

The full episode airs on May 10, 2025, on Austin PBS. Click through for a preview!

Client — Austin Community College District
Developer — Redleaf Properties
Pavilion sponsor — UFCU
Landscape Architect — dwg.
Architect — Agenda Architecture
Civil Engineer — Stantec | WGI
Structural Engineer — Leap!Structures
MEP Engineer — Bay & Associates
General Contractors — Harvey Cleary Builders | Strata Landscape
Steel Fabrication — Renfrow + Co
Custom Art Lighting — AAG

Studio dwg. is honored to be featured on Central Texas Gardener, highlighting the transformation of St. John Encampment Commons — once an expanse of impervious asphalt — into a dynamic public park that supports biodiversity and community connection. The episode features Daniel Woodroffe, Preside...

02/14/2025

Designing for a Future That Needs Us More Than Ever.

Inspired by American Society of Landscape Architects's call to action, dwg. stands alongside their mission to shape a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable world. Today we are facing a world that is shifting beneath our feet—politically, environmentally, and socially. Protections for natural and urban landscapes are being rolled back, funding for environmental initiatives is at risk, and communities are grappling with uncertainty. As trust erodes and resilience is tested, the need for purposeful design has never been greater. This is not just an industry challenge— it’s a call to action.

At dwg., we see these shifts as a mandate to design with urgency and intention. Our landscapes are not passive; they actively shape a better future. Whether through ecological restoration, public art, or urban spaces our work and practice is diverse, equitable and inclusive. We create work that does more than exist — it makes an equitable impact and by integrating diverse perspectives, we ensure our work fosters connection and reflects the people they serve.

Inherently our projects represent places of renewal, transformation, and unity. They challenge convention and serve as catalysts for change and models of stewardship. Every project we take on is an opportunity to push boundaries and craft solutions that leave a lasting positive impact — not just on the land, but on the lives it touches.

Looking forward, the challenges ahead will demand bold ideas and fearless creativity. True sustainability means protecting our environment while ensuring shared spaces are accessible and meaningful for all. This moment asks designers, collaborators, and communities to step forward.

At dwg., we’re not just designing landscapes. We’re designing the future.

Are you with us?

https://www.studiodwg.com/news/designing-for-a-future-that-needs-us-more-than-ever

12/06/2024

SXSW London 2025 Panel Picker is now live!

What happens when art converges with urbanism to transform cities? This panel, moderated by Daniel Woodroffe RLA, President of dwg., brings together Austin and London-based creatives and urban visionaries to discuss art’s role in revitalizing public spaces and fostering social connections. Through a transatlantic lens, our panel will explore how cities like Austin and London are embracing art to redefine their urban identities. dwg., with offices in both cities, guides a discussion with Austin-based multidisciplinary artist Emily Eisenhart, Shoreditch-based Global Street Art co-founder Lee Bofkin and Austin cultural activist Raasin McIntosh, founder of Raasin In The Sun. Together, they’ll showcase how cross-cultural collaboration can inspire new visions for urban spaces.

(Click through to vote, you will need to create a login first.)

https://sxswlondon.awardsplatform.com/entry/vote/lZArWWKl/zoBVJPPK?search=8b14e2b70723df40-89

12/05/2024

Click through the link to hear dwg. President and Founder Daniel Woodroffe discuss the role of community in landscape architecture.

mentorDINO · Episode

10/24/2024

Springdale Green is home to a vibrant meadow system designed to nurture a diverse range of pollinators — native bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, and even bats. While the honeybee hives are a great connection for tenants, the real ecological impact comes from the carefully selected native plants and grasses that sustain these species.

Key plants that attract pollinators include:
• Black-eyed Susan
• Purple Coneflower
• American Basketflower
• Lemon Mint
• Butterfly W**d
• Partridge Pea
• Prairie Verbena

Alongside these flowers, native grasses like Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, Eastern Gammagrass, and Switchgrass provide essential habitat for ground-nesting bees and other beneficial insects, while also helping to prevent soil erosion.

By fostering this diversity, Springdale Green strengthens the local ecosystem, supporting pollination, biodiversity, and environmental resilience.

10/16/2024

Originally built in the 1930s, the Chalmers Courts public housing complex was in desperate need of updating to meet current building and living standards, as well as to provide modern amenities and additional apartments. Designed to be transformed in three phases, the project encouraged current residents to remain on-site throughout the process, retaining nearly 90% of its residents.

Chalmers Courts is community-focused, providing safe, family-friendly outdoor spaces such as playgrounds, sport courts, grill areas, and multi-purpose lawns. The project transforms a former vehicular road that bisected the property into a pedestrian and bike thoroughfare, further promoting community connectivity and safety.

Modern green infrastructure and sustainable strategies are also introduced to the site, from rain gardens and A/C condensate recovery to the preservation of magnificent heritage trees that provide shady refuge throughout the complex.

Client: Housing Authority of the City of Austin | Carleton
Architect: Nelsen Partners
Landscape Architect: dwg.
Civil Engineer: Dunaway
Photography: Matthew Niemann Photography

10/04/2024

This transformative project reclaims a former petrochemical tank farm, turning it into a vibrant, eco-conscious office campus in Austin. With native meadows, woodlands, and an urban creek, Springdale Green sets the standard for urban ecology and sustainability, seeking both LEED Gold and Sustainable SITES certification.

Join the team from Gensler and Daniel Woodroffe at the Houston TxA conference today at 4pm, to learn how innovative water management systems and immersive green spaces are redefining what a healthy work environment can be.

10/03/2024

Today at the Houston TxA conference, dwg. and Agenda Architecture will present the transformative story of St. John Encampment Commons, from its historic roots as a gathering place for the St. John Baptist Association to its current role as a dynamic public park at Austin Community College’s Highland Campus.

This presentation will explore how a former mall parking lot was thoughtfully redesigned into a 2.4-acre urban green space that honors the rich cultural history of the site while supporting the needs of modern Austin. Attendees will learn about the project’s design process, including its innovative use of adaptive reuse, and how the event pavilion became such a fascinating design challenge and a pivotal moment for the project.

If you’re attending the conference, we encourage you to join us at noon today for a deep dive into how urban spaces can evolve to reflect both historical significance and future community needs. We look forward to sharing the details and vision behind this award-winning project.

09/20/2024

Park(ing) day is a global event where communities transform curbside parking spaces into temporary public parks and social spaces, advocating for safer, greener, and more equitable streets. At dwg., we’re proud to be at the forefront of this movement, having pioneered pocket parks on Congress Avenue to reclaim and enrich downtown pedestrian spaces. Let’s continue to reshape our urban landscape, one park(ing) space at a time!

09/17/2024

We had an incredible time at the Fallout Theater for our team-building day! The improv exercises pushed us out of our comfort zones and fostered quick thinking and collaboration. It’s amazing how such a fun activity can enhance both creativity and collaboration.

09/12/2024

Nearing completion of this remarkable transformation, Springdale Green reimagines the conventional workplace environment by transforming and healing a 30-acre former petrochemical tank farm into an environmentally conscious office campus — reestablishing native meadows, woodlands, and an urban creek tributary.

Designed to be immersive and engaging, an elevated boardwalk forms a continuous meandering loop that leads tenants and guests through the campus’ various eco-zones. Seeking both LEED Gold and Sustainable SITES Gold certification, this project aims to be a model for urban ecology and sustainable development in Austin. Rainwater and A/C condensate is reclaimed and stored in an underground cistern, and the site’s rain gardens and bio-retention basin are designed to address stormwater not only for the campus but also to reduce flooding in the surrounding neighborhood.

Client: Jay Paul Company
Architect: Gensler Austin
Civil: Kimley-Horn
Structural: IMEG
MEP: EEA Consulting Engineers
Lighting: Tillotson Design Associates
General Contractor: Level 10 Construction
Geotech: Terracon
Steel Fabrication: Patriot Erectors
Millwork: Duffin Architectural Solutions
Landscape Contractor: Clean Scapes
Deck Material: Kebony