Located in north Austin at the Austin Community College (ACC) Highland Campus, Fontaine Plaza was formerly the entrance drive to Highland Mall, which closed in 2015. Developer Redleaf Properties, in partnership with Austin Community College, took on the endeavor to reinvent and revitalize the former mall into an active and bustling educational district. McCann Adams Studio master planned the development.
Designed by studio dwg, the plaza’s namesake, Reverend Jacob Fontaine, was a freedman, noble civil leader, church founder, and educator. His love for education and strong sense of community were a source of inspiration, and the design commemorates the site’s history as a hub for the community and education, while incorporating the adaptive reuse of reclaimed materials and low-impact design.
Kebony Character cladding is used for the benches placed throughout the park, as well as the base foundation for all of the beautiful heritage live oaks on the periphery of the site.