Parks & outdoors

The Bay Education Center and Laboratory project was a combined effort consisting of the City of Rockport, Texas, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), and Mission Aransas, National Estuarine Research Reserve. The goal of the facility is to educate the public on the importance of estuaries, especially as they relate to the Texas Gulf Coast ecosystems. The facility houses a number of programs including the City of Rockport Parks Department offices, an aquatic science learning center and an exhibition space. The contractor for the project was procured through the CMAR method. The contractor and design team worked together throughout the project to ensure that appropriate systems and materials were selected for the building to withstand the gulf coast climate where the facility is located.

As part of a Bond Program for the City of Corpus Christi, the Gignac Architects team designed Water’s Edge improvements on Shoreline Boulevard between Furman Avenue and Buford Street. After the City cut off a portion of Shoreline Boulevard to divert it around the new park area, we designed the new park improvements with restrooms, shaded pavilions, playgrounds, green spaces, utilities, landscaping, driveways and parking lots for future pedestrian events. The park also includes a dog park, which is the first dog park in the City of Corpus Christi. 

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The new La Joya Natatorium Project is made up of three distinct areas. The first area is the Admissions Area, which groups together the Main Entry, the Restroom/Shower Buildings, and the Concessions Building. The second area is the Natatorium Building, which houses the 10 lane competition pool, two diving boards, two locker rooms, and the supporting mechanical space. The third area of the Natatorium project is the Water Park. It has a covered toddler leisure pool and larger leisure pool, both with play and spray features, and a water slide that terminates into a plunge pool. The Water Park area will also have a winding river pool. Dispersed around these pools area covered canopy areas and lounging areas. Parking, separation of entrances for the Natatorium and Water Park, and security are issues that have also been addressed in this project.

Following a devastating Category Four hurricane in 1919 that destroyed its downtown, Corpus Christi filled a block into the Corpus Christi Bay to construct a seawall that would protect the community from future disasters. Since that time, the bay front has been defined by Shoreline Drive—a wide boulevard designed primarily for automobiles—and provided limited spaces for pedestrians in the hot South Texas sun. In 2004, Gignac Associates and Sasaki prepared the overall master plan for the Corpus Christi bay front—spanning from McGee Beach in the south to the ship channel in the north. The approved master plan called for the relocation of Shoreline Boulevard in order to accommodate green spaces along the water’s edge, thus creating the vision for the North Bay front Park. Situated next to the American Bank Center Arena, North Bay front Park is the first of a series of parks to be constructed from the master plan. The relocation, reduction of two travel lanes, and removal of the 80-foot-wide median of Shoreline Boulevard recaptured the bay front land and allowed for the creation of North Bay front Park. Traffic trables, intersection neck-downs, and reduced lanes curtail traffic and improve the public realm for pedestrians. North Bay front Park is designed to accommodate festivals and events such as Buccaneer Days. Shoreline Boulevard is closed to traffic for these events to make space for performances, vendors, and pedestrians. A key feature of the park includes an interactive fountain to attract children and families. Parents can sit at the adjacent café in the park, protected from the wind with glass windscreens, while watching their children play in the fountain. The café is shaded by fabric stretched between posts while groves of palms and mesquite trees will grow over time to provide shady spots in the park. An arbor is designed to support colorful Bougainvillea planting that shade a walkway leading to the fountain. The arbor fronts a parcel identified for a future restaurant included in the design to activate and program the park.

Gignac Associates provided design services to develop a new Vision Plan for the City of San Benito, in association with SWA Group. The Project included site analysis and master plan development to establish the area as a gateway, destination, catalyst for economic development, and cultural heritage. The proposed site improvements included and event center, event lawn, waterfront promenade, canal, and retail shops, restaurants, and cafes.

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Gignac Associates worked closely with the City of Port Aransas and the design team to provide a Master Plan and Development Plan for the Marina Market and Waterfront Development. Our design team created a master plan for the project site to encourage tourism, retail and restaurant development in the area, and to accommodate other future growth for the community. The design included a fishing pier, harbor market, pavilion, family friendly amenities, parking, restrooms, and multi-functional space.

Project details coming soon!

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