Winrock Town Center

The former Winrock Mall in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was reimagined as a vibrant town center. As part of the rehabilitation, a central park for the entire mixed-use development was built in collaboration with the City of Albuquerque. As the landscape architect for the park’s design, Sites partnered with PACE Advanced Water Engineering and Modulus to create a dynamic public space featuring an event amphitheater and lawn, a large playground with both nature-based and traditional play areas, a lake with bridges and restaurants overlooking it, and a network of soft- and hardscape trails and plazas. The design also incorporates an educational kiosk, orchard and entry plaza at the Dillard’s entrance, and a curving, flowing pathway system that guides visitors into a variety of experiences—spaces close to the water’s edge, and niches farther away for a more contemplative retreat. Native plants were carefully selected to support water conservation and climate resilience. A small high-tech water treatment plant supplies reclaimed water to the lake, which is then reused for park irrigation. The park’s story is shared through interpretive and educational signage, reinforcing a vision of long-term sustainability.