What was once a barren parking lot is now a vibrant urban plaza for the G. B. Dealey Center for New Media. Located at a prominent corner of two arterial streets, the Belo Center creates a gateway between the campus and Austin’s urban core. Here indigenous Texas plants are interwoven with human-scaled gathering spaces that include an entry plaza, outdoor cafe, performance space, and outdoor classroom. Inspired by Lady Bird Johnson, a graduate of the College, the design team and client were committed to the use of native plants, habitat creation for urban wildlife, and water conservation. In collaboration with the project’s engineers and architects, TELA conceptualized a comprehensive collection system for rainwater and mechanical condensate that provides 100% of the water required for landscape irrigation, an achievement celebrated by a recirculating biofiltration fountain at the center of the plaza. As one of the most biodiverse and socially active landscapes on campus, the project demonstrates the ability of native plants to perform in a formal, urban setting and showcases thoughtfully-integrated built and natural systems.