ROWLETT, Texas—Lifescapes International, a Newport Beach-based landscape architectural firm, has been selected to design the overall landscape environment for Bayside, a $1 billion master-planned development encompassing 262 acres that is planned to feature a variety of retail, restaurants, residential units, and a resort hotel in the Lake Ray Hubbard area of Rowlett, Texas.
The development will feature the very first Crystal Lagoon in Texas, which is a new technology that creates man-made lagoons with crystal-clear, turquoise waters in order to transform any development into an idyllic beachfront property. In addition, the project will feature a 300-foot long fountain with video projections on mist screens for an unrivalled and visually engaging experience.
“The Bayside master-planned development will be the ultimate destination,” says Julie Brinkerhoff-Jacobs, president of Lifescapes International. “The development team of Kent Donahue and Wilks Development are bringing beachfront property to a Dallas submarket, and doing so in a way that is iconic. Guests and residents will enjoy the eight-acre crystal lagoon and fountain, as well as over four miles of lakefront trails, an open-air trolley and a Town Center Park, all surrounded by the most high-quality office, retail, residential, and hospitality product in the market.”
According to Al Amador, senior principal and lead designer for the project, Lifescapes is planning a series of outdoor amenities surrounding the lagoon, including private beach clubs, cabanas, poolside areas, and terraced gardens overlooking the lagoon. “Our design concept centers on the water feature,” explains Amador. “We plan to create a series of terraces and rooftop gardens, giving all restaurants and retail shops a clear view of the spectacular water show.”
At the water level, Lifescapes will design a variety of themed, Las Vegas-style “beach zones” featuring amenities such as swim-up bars and floating fire pits to cultivate an exciting nightlife atmosphere, according to Amador. In addition to the beach zones, Lifescapes will landscape design the project’s Town Center Park, a gathering area for concerts and family events, bordered by retail and residential product on either side.
“The project’s central park will give guests and residents a memorable destination to gather and socialize, while providing the project owner with an additional revenue stream from event programming,” notes Amador. “In addition, we will incorporate a pathway of lush trees and plants to evoke a feeling of Americana nostalgia for people riding the open-air trolley through the park.”
Additional amenities at the Bayside master-planned community include a water front zip-line, electric boats and small cruisers for sailing on the lagoon, a FlowRider surf machine, and day beds in the water, all of which will create an immersive resort-style experience.
Bayside will be located along the shores of Lake Ray Hubbard on Interstate 30 in Rowlett, less than 20 minutes from Dallas, Texas. Designed as a pedestrian-friendly, open-air resort destination, Bayside will encompass more than 1.5 million square feet of commercial space, 3,000 residential units, 1,000 ship marina, and 700 hotel rooms.
The mixed-use development will infuse luxury residential units, upscale dining and entertainment options, retail stores and recreational amenities within an urban, lakefront environment.
The master-planned community is being developed by Bayside Land Partners, LLC. Construction on the lagoon will start in March, and the project is expected to be open by Spring 2019.
