The Backyard project is a raised landscape plaza for a new cinema arts center in Mid-town Saint Paul. Conceived as community gathering art space, this pocket park brings needed green space to an area of endless asphalt parking. By harvesting the stormwater from the roof of the 1930's warehouse water filters into 10,000-gallon tank buried under pervious parking lot. The water is pumped back into a recirculating water feature and feeds irrigation for native planting beds. Planting beds hold native shrubs and grasses to encourage pollinators and birds to find a cool spot within an intensely urban part of the city.

The simple urban plaza provides inspiring space for creativity during the day and an animated plaza at night for summer films.

This project reimagines an underutilized industrial space as a vibrant community asset. The design prioritizes ecological function alongside human experience, creating a multifunctional space that serves both environmental and social needs. The water collection system demonstrates how urban infrastructure can be rethought to provide multiple benefits.

The Backyard represents a model for sustainable urban development that transforms hardscape into productive landscape. By introducing native plantings and water elements into a formerly barren environment, the project creates habitat for wildlife while offering respite for the community. The cinema functionality activates the space during evening hours, extending its usefulness and creating a cultural destination.