CAPITOL TOWER

A parking garage with better things on top.

At Capitol Tower, now Bank of America Tower, a 24,000-square-foot rooftop landscape brings gardens and gathering spaces into downtown Houston’s skyline. Developed by Skanska, with architecture by Gensler and landscape architecture by OJB, the project connects the streetscape to the elevated SkyPark.

At OJB, Rachel served as Project Manager and Design Lead. An initially inaccessible green roof evolved into an outdoor amenity for tenants. With the parking structure already built, its structural grid, access points, and capacity shaped the design from the outset.

Repeated testing of layouts, occupancy, and egress helped fit a generous garden within those constraints. Planting, paths, and shade structures were coordinated with the existing podium, making technical problem-solving central to the outdoor experience.

Meandering paths weave through ornamental grasses. Shaded seating and planted edges offer places to gather or find a quieter moment above the street.

Texture, movement, and scent make the garden immersive. Lavender and rosemary were selected for their suitability to the structural soil conditions and their fragrance, bringing another sensory layer to the planting. From the offices above, the garden reads as a richly composed landscape, offering something beautiful even when stepping outside has to wait.