News
Keiji Asakura, ASLA: Distinguished Service Award Winner - November 21, 2005
Landscape Architect, Keiji Asakura, ASLA, Principal of Houston based Asakura Robinson Company, was the recipient of Keep Houston Beautiful’s Distinguished Service Award, presented by Mayor Bill White at the 2005 Proud Partner Luncheon. Mr. Asakura received his award for a decade of service to Houston including many board and advisory positions, dedication to many of Houston’s SPARK parks and countless volunteer hours of hands-on beautification work around the city. Asakura Robinson Company provides Landscape Architecture, Urban Design and Community Planning services for both public and private entities. Mr. Asakura’s notable projects include the renovation of the Hermann Park McGovern Lake Expansion and the Moody Gardens Master Plan.
KHB Chairman: Bill Linthicum, Keiji Asakura, ASLA, Mayor Bill White
Creating More Beauty, Asakura focuses on city's aesthetics
Houston Chronicle, April 27, 2006 Creating More Beauty Article.pdf
ARC project wins AIA award and receives accolades in local magazine
New Hope Housing's Canal Street Apartments received a 2006 AIA Design Award earlier this year. The project was also featured in the December '05 issue of Houston House & Home. Asakura Robinson Company worked with local architect Natalye Appel on this East End affordable housing project. HBJ_NHH.pdf
Landscaper Aims to Revamp Roadway
Houston Chronicle, July 14, 2006 HoustonChronicle_com - Landscaper aims to revamp roadway.txt
ARC Projects feature in Houston Chronicle's "20 Cool Things in Houston"
Company Displays Growing Creativity
Houston Chronicle, September 10, 2006 Growing Creativity.pdf
ARC Turns Green for the Record
Margaret Robinson, ARC principal, is now a LEED Accredited Professional. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings and sites. LEED® promotes a holistic approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.
Keiji Asakura is profiled in the Keep America Beautiful, Inc. 2005 Annual Review
Contact our office for a complementary copy of the review. 2005_Annual_Review.pdf
ARC/Student Collaboration Wins Mandell Park Design Competition
Houston Chronicle, October 21, 2006. Mandell Park.pdf
2nd Annual ARC Open House is a hit! - October 19, 2006
Keiji's original art piece raises $1,800 for The Cultural Landscape Foundation:
ARC's Beltway 8 Regional Park project receives Honor Award - January 16, 2007
The Beltway 8 Regional Park project, currently in design received an Honor Award from H-GAC's Parks & Natural Areas Best Practices Award Program in the Planning Category: Beltway8-HGACAward-1-16-07.pdf
ARC's Genesis Park Wins Texas Chapter ASLA Award - April, 2007
Genesis Park Sculpture Garden, located in the Museum District, has received a Texas Chapter ASLA Merit Award. The award will be presented during the Texas Chapter conference, which is to be held at the Hilton Americas Hotel in April. Contact us for more details on the conference.
Keiji Asakura turns yellow?
Houston's Yellow Magazine recently sent young reporter, Jessica Ritter, to interview Keiji for their April publication: Yellow Magazine.pdf
ARC's Beachtown project featured in New York Times
Andrés Duany's New Urbanist beachfront community, Beachtown, Galveston compared to the Hamptons: NYT Beachtown.pdf
Keiji quoted in Luxe magazine's outdoor space article
Keiji comments on trends in outdoor spaces in the summer issue of the upscale Luxe magazine: Luxe Magazine Article.pdf
ARC contributes to Greenest Home in town:
Daniel and Adele Hedges push the envelope to set an incredible example of urban sustainability. ARC is proud to serve as Landscape Architect on the project: Hedges Residence.pdf
ARC’s New Hope Housing Project wins award - January 27, 2009
New Hope Housing’s Canal Street Apartments was recently awarded ULI Houston’s 2009 Development of Distinction Award. “Each (winner) is evaluated for its contributions to a more sustainable, thriving community." said Reid Wilson, managing partner of Wilson, Cribbs & Goren, and the ULI Houston District Council Chair. ARC is proud to have provided landscape design for this project which serves a community in need. Congratulations to architect, Val Glitsch, FAIA.
ARC’s Urban Corridor Project wins awards - Early 2009
The City of Houston Urban Corridor Planning Study, completed by Toronto based, The Planning Partnership, and Asakura Robinson Company, received two awards in early ’09: The American Society of Landscape Architects 2009 National Honor Award in the Analysis and Planning Category; and the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects 2009 National Citation Award.
4th Annual ARC Open House is a hit! - October 16, 2008
ARC Residential Project wins awards - May, 2009
Strasser Ragni Architects recently completed design of a beautiful contemporary residence for River Oaks resident, Poppi Massey. The landscape design, which included a green roof, outdoor rooms and extensive plantings to provide privacy, was awarded a 2009 American Society of Landscape Architects, Texas Chapter, Merit Award.
NOW LEED AP!
June, 2009 Jessica Krug, LEED AP
Elizabeth Renton, ASLA, LEED AP
ARC Gets Constructive - June 13, 2009
ARC staff turned out to the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center for the second leg of our volunteer project. Back in December, 2008, we installed a rain garden in the habitat area in front of the entrance. Run off was channeled from the parking lot into the rain garden to be absorbed and mitigated before flowing into the storm drain. This time around SpawGlass constructed and installed two long gabion benches and ARC staff constructed a green wall using the same cage method filled with recycled crushed concrete. Thanks also to Christison Landscape and San Jacinto Environmental Supply.
NOW Licensed Irrigator!
August, 2009 Tri Tran, LI
ARC becomes a Pre-Qualified Plan Source Vendor with H-GAC!
ARC was recently selected as a pre-qualified vendor for H-GAC’s new Plan Source program. The program allows Clients to choose a pre-qualified professional firm to perform planning services for parks, streetscapes, trail master plans, etc without having to issue a formal RFQ. For more information on the program see H-GAC’s website: http://www.theplansource.org/
ARC to team with VMWP on latest H-GAC Livable Centers - October, 2009
ARC recently teamed with Van Meter Williams Pollack and LAN Engineers and was awarded H-GAC’s latest Livable Centers Project. Actually it’s two projects rolled into one contract: Upper Kirby District and Near Northside. ARC will work with VMWP to identify and develop potential pedestrian and transportation mobility opportunities and economic investment options to improve quality of live within the two neighborhoods.
ARC is Honored to Take on Urban Farm Development Challenge with Pro-Vision School - November, 2009
Pro-Vision, an all male HISD charter school led by retired NFL player, Roynell Young, approached ARC to help them with their vision of a completely sustainable, organic, some-day off-the-grid master plan. The initial idea was to develop a two-acre urban farm to grow crops which will be distributed to the needy within the Sunnyside neighborhood. Keiji suggested a complete site master plan be developed to plan for future growth. Roynell is a true inspiration, not just to his students, but to all who meet him and glimpse even a hint of his passion for the kids and their futures. His dedication is our dedication. We plan to have fun, inspire and learn from this experience.
ARC Office Moves to First Ward Arts District - January 1, 2011
As of January 1, 2011, Asakura Robinson hangs it hat at a new location. The firm has moved to 1902 Washington Avenue, located on the south boundary of Houston’s First Ward, an exciting location in the heart of the Washington Corridor. The area, affectionately known as WAve, is blossoming as H-Town’s newest Arts District. ARC plans to aid in that growth: being one of many design firms in the area, they plan to encourage the design industry to invest in the evolving community to enliven the spirit of the Avenue. Even with the weak economy, development in the area is solid with pioneering restaurants, bars and businesses opening, and thriving, every day. Houston developer, Frank Liu, is the owner of 1902. Frank has worked with ARC to renovate the space, his willingness to think outside the box will allow the firm to deliver many cool surprises to visitors and passers-by. Stay tuned...
