The American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment (COTE) has named University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design Kendall Professor of Design Technologies Andrew Kudless among its 2023 COTE Top Ten 2023 winners. This recognition is the second AIA National award Kudless has received for Confluence Park, a project produced by his firm Matsys and Lake | Flato Architects. The annual Top Ten awards represent the architecture and design industry’s leading program in sustainable design excellence and practice.

Confluence Park was completed in 2018 and is positioned at the junction of the San Antonio River and San Pedro Creek. Envisioned by the San Antonio River Foundation as a space for environmental experience and education, today, Confluence Park lives out this vision, bringing together the convergence of water, ecology, and culture.

“The park is organized into almost a ‘zoo of ecologies’ with different species from several surrounding regions of San Antonio,” said Kudless. “Along with the many ecotypes represented, the park includes a large outdoor pavilion and indoor classroom for visiting groups and activities. Together, a confluence with culture develops.”

The pavilion, designed by Kudless, embodies the life cycle of water in both its design and performance. Inspired by natural plant structures, the pavilion’s “petal” roof funnels water to the ground and deposits it in a giant cistern. The water is used throughout the year to provide irrigation for park grounds and operate park facilities. Visitors also find a cool place to gather under the pavilion as they learn from their park exploration, bridging the gap between outdoor and indoor spaces.

Positioned next to the pavilion, Lake | Flato developed the neighboring Estela Avery Education Center as an earthen building, low to the ground and covered with a green roof. The building’s design insulates itself well in the earth and, combined with its concrete structure, retains energy efficiently. Solar panels on the roof produce almost 100% of the energy needed to power the park throughout the year.

Core to the park’s confluence is its mission to cultivate sustainable practices and a culture of awareness in future generations. Since its opening, more than 32,000 students from over 70 school districts have visited the park at no cost to them. Students explore the park’s different ecotypes and learn about its sustainable practices from dedicated park rangers. Confluence Park serves as a source of conversation and discovery, not just by its mere presence but by how it sustains itself and contributes to the community.

In 2022, the park’s reach expanded internationally when it was named the North American Friendship Garden through a partnership with the Consulate General of Canada in Texas, the Consulate General of Mexico in San Antonio, the City of San Antonio, San Antonio River Authority, and San Antonio River Foundation.

The park’s overall cohesiveness and execution are a testament to the clear vision and strong partnership of its designers. Kudless worked closely with Tenna Florian, a partner at Lake | Flato and one of only five Texas members to be elected to the AIA College of Fellows this year, to realize the project’s success. The pair attended Tulane University and graduated in 1998, not realizing their professional paths would cross such an influential venture decades later.

“This project demonstrates that good design and high-performance sustainability goals can be achieved through the careful integration of technology and design,” shared Kudless. “Although it has won several design awards in the past, I am honored for it to receive the COTE Top Ten Award as it recognizes the critical importance of sustainable design.”

The American Institute of Architects will celebrate the 2023 COTE Top Ten Awards at a special reception on Thursday, June 8, at 7:30 pm, during the annual AIA Conference on Architecture in San Francisco, California.