Corpus Christi. A Productive Downtown for a Productive City

This proposal is shaped by community input gathered through workshops with residents of Corpus Christi and stakeholder meetings conducted in 2019 and 2020. Guided by human intelligence and grounded in local knowledge, the design process centered on the lived experiences and aspirations of those most impacted by decisions about the future of Downtown. Five community priorities emerged through this engaged design process: Downtown should (1) reflect the region’s biodiversity of fauna and flora, (2) increase resilience to storm and flood events, (3) become a vibrant destination for living, working, relaxing, and recreation, (4) leverage current industrial growth to enable infrastructural investment, and (5) be more connected and accessible as the civic and economic center of the Coastal Bend.

At the core of the proposal is a new canal, conceived as a multi-functional infrastructure that combines flood and stormwater mitigation with public space and ecological restoration. The canal is an adaptive concept for future climate change impacts. It is designed to reduce urban heat through evaporative cooling, absorb storm surge, manage surface runoff, and mitigate the effects of extreme rainfall events. Functioning as a resilient green-blue corridor, it creates habitat for species across water, land, and air while enhancing quality of life for residents and visitors. The canal also forms a continuous walkable loop that links the Bayshore, Marina Arts, and Sea Districts. As a connective thread, it ties together the cultural, ecological, and economic life of the city. From McGee Beach and the hotels on Water Street to the Port of Corpus Christi, the canal highlights the region’s diverse forms of productivity. It turns a climate challenge into an opportunity for spatial transformation.

The proposal restores urban continuity by reconnecting Shoreline Boulevard, Harbor Drive, and Staples Street to the bayfront. This improves access across Downtown for vehicles, pedestrians, and public transit. The improved street network, aligned with water-sensitive infrastructure, helps integrate the city’s fragmented edges and support inclusive mobility.

Downtown is envisioned as a District of Bridges, a typology that reflects its coastal identity and its need for adaptive connections. The existing Watergarden is joined by two new public plazas, offering anchor points along the canal loop for civic gathering, storytelling, recreation, and everyday encounters. These spaces invite residents and visitors to walk, learn, shop, dine, and reflect on the city's relationship with water and change.

Through an integrated and participatory approach, this proposal activates design as a tool for resilience. It builds on local knowledge to create a Downtown that is ecologically responsive, socially inclusive, and prepared for the climate challenges of the future.

TEAM

Oswald Jenewein (PI)

Assistant Professor, School of Architecture

University of Texas at Arlington

 

Diane Jones Allen (Co-PI)

Professor, Department of Landscape Architecture

University of Texas at Arlington

 

Ivonne Audirac (Co-PI)

Professor, Department of Urban Planning and Public Policy

University of Texas at Arlington

 

Graduate Assistants:

Isaiah Sigala

Alden Obenita

Samar Hussain

Melissa Farrell

Bryan Hernandez

 

Keywords:

Climate Change Adaptation, Vulnerable Communities, Environmental Injustice,

Sustainable Cities, Urban Ecology

 

Project Short Film