Quinta Mazatlán is an urban sanctuary with deep roots in the history, culture and ecology of McAllen and the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Working with the City of McAllen, OVERLAND was hired to create a master plan for the beloved cultural institution. Known for showcasing the natural landscape and ecology of the Rio Grande Valley, Quinta Mazatlán is famous for its thorn brush plants and native wild bird species not found in other parts of South Texas due to overdevelopment. As a result, the property is home to an action-oriented research group called the Center for Urban Ecology with a mission to mission to enrich people’s lives by sharing knowledge about birds, plants and environmental stewardship in South Texas. Through visioning and community outreach, OVERLAND created a master plan that created a central focus on the campus for visitor interaction, a new visitor arrival sequence, a renewed focus on landscape and the movement of water, and a network of trails. Additionally, the master plan includes concept visualizations of important features to help Quinta Mazatlan build the vision for the future.

In the first building phase of the master plan, OVERLAND and Quinta Mazatlán have set out to create a world class destination that serves as a gateway to the world birding network by increasing the regional footprint of native habitat, growing the total number of visitors per year and housing the new Center for Urban Ecology at Quinta Mazatlán. This building, known as the P.A.L.M. (Plants, Animals, Land and Humankind) House will work to enrich people’s lives by sharing knowledge about plants and birds while helping them forge a connection with the history, beauty and wonder of our natural world. The building design prioritizes being a habitat for birds, capturing breezes naturally, shading program spaces, conserving and reusing water, and framing views of the natural landscape. The new P.A.L.M. House is situated at the heart of the site and orientated to prevailing winds. It will include the Center of Urban Ecology along with a Children’s Learning Center and gardens to promote appreciation of nature and model cultural and ecological sustainability for learners of all ages. Designed to be a net positive habitat, the building and gardens merge to provide armatures for plants, insects and animals.