Exploration Green Wins ENR Texas-Louisiana’s 2024 Best Project Award
By LAN Staff
Planning, engineering and program management firm Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) has been named a winner in the Engineering News-Record (ENR) Texas & Louisiana’s 2024 Regional Best Project Awards for Exploration Green Detention Facility. Commissioned by the Clear Lake City Water Authority (CLCWA), the Exploration Green Detention Facility was selected as the Landscape/Urban Development category winner.
Located in southeast Houston, the 178-acre Exploration Green site exemplifies modern approaches to flood mitigation and community-oriented urban planning. Once an abandoned golf course, the site has been transformed into a state-of-the-art stormwater detention system that doubles as a vibrant natural habitat and recreational space for residents.
The $47 million project involved designing and constructing five detention ponds shaped like natural lakes. Each pond can store up to 100 million gallons of stormwater, significantly reducing flood risks for the surrounding neighborhood. Additionally, the project created 200 acres of urban green space featuring 6 miles of concrete hike-and-bike trails and 105 acres of restored natural habitat.
“We are honored by this recognition,” said Kelly Shipley, PE, Project Manager at LAN.
“Exploration Green showcases the power of innovative planning, interdisciplinary collaboration and strong community engagement to achieve effective flood mitigation while enhancing urban resilience.”
LAN began the preliminary design process in 2011, with construction of the first phase starting in 2015. The final phase was completed in 2023. The Exploration Green Detention Facility demonstrates how innovative engineering can integrate natural elements into urban environments to address critical infrastructure needs. The project sets a new standard for sustainable water management in urban areas by combining flood mitigation with ecological restoration and recreational amenities.
The ENR Texas & Louisiana Regional Best Project Awards recognize outstanding achievements in the architecture, engineering and construction industries across five states: Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. A panel of industry experts judged entries on criteria including innovation, teamwork, community impact, safety and design and construction quality.
LAN representatives attended the award ceremony in Houston, Texas, on December 6, 2024.
