REENGAGING THE LAND AT THE GEORGE W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL CENTER

Abstract

INTRODUCTION In planning the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas, former First Lady Laura Bush presented a very clear vision of what the Center should epitomize: “Because George was the first president of the new millennium, I wanted it to be forward and modern.” 1 For the president and Mrs. Bush this meant making the building and landscape environmentally responsible, beautiful, and welcoming. In particular, their love of native Texas landscapes was an important framework for transforming the project’s urban site into a park that was sustainable and experientially rich for visitors. Sustainability was addressed from the start with smart planning that privileged contiguous parkland over impermeable surfaces and structures. Simultaneous consideration of every landscape component—-stormwater, plants, soil, topography, and more—netted cohesive natural systems that are better able to succeed with short-term establishment and provide enduring long-term health, the ultimate goals for a sustainab...