It has partnered with architect Michael Hsu to create the centre, called Understory, as part of the 35-storey Capitol Street office development currently under construction in Houston’s central business district (CBD).
Understory – which Skanska said is “named for the lively space between the forest canopy and the underbrush” – is intended to be a vibrant, open community space. It will be located on a block in the CBD that includes five points of tunnel access.
Houston's tunnel network is approximately six miles long and links 95 city blocks.
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Understory will feature over 35,000 square feet of community space that will include a full-service restaurant and a 9,000-square-foot culinary market. A central feature of Understory is the connection of the street and tunnel levels, facilitated by the 'Great Steps', a 30-foot-wide monumental staircase and gathering place that will create a street level gateway to the tunnel network.
“We are excited to partner with Michael Hsu to create a fresh, compelling destination that represents Downtown Houston’s shift to a more vibrant 24/7 community,” said Matt Damborsky, executive vice president for Skanska USA Commercial Development in Houston. “Understory’s mix of culinary options, destination retail and community connection will create a dynamic hub where Houstonians can explore diverse flavours and gather with colleagues and friends in a setting that merges the street and tunnel levels in a truly distinctive way.”
Skanska said that, upon its opening in 2019, the community space will be the first in the city’s tunnel network to be programmed seven days a week, from morning to night, with a wide variety of culinary, retail, and cultural offerings.
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