The campus of the Baker Ripley Neighborhood Center includes a K-5 elementary school, a public library, a business incubator, a community health center, an arts center, a farmers market, children’s water park, outdoor amphitheater, and a public park that supports a large Latino community in southwest Houston. The master planning component of this project included 6 months of community engagement with residents and the client. The visual language of the campus draws from Southwestern American art and architecture, including archways, mosaic tile murals, and vibrant colors.
The Center is LEED certified, with a number of sustainable features including rainwater cisterns for landscape irrigation, water efficient plumbing fixtures, rain chains for draining rooftop water, light paving to reduce heat island effect, and reserved parking spaces for fuel-efficient vehicles. The project preserves open green space and uses native landscaping to reduce irrigation.
Since opening, the Center has become a vibrant, active community hub, providing educational and wellness services along with gathering spaces.
