Lakeside Development – The Woodlands, Texas

The Research Forest Lakeside in The Woodlands, Texas is a 10-building, mixed-use development set on 77 wooded acres. The campus is a natural oasis that overlooks Lake Woodlands and is conveniently located near many of The Woodlands’ amenities. With four retail buildings, five office buildings, and room for more development in the future, the campus attracts a variety of visitors.

The development features a large deck that sits directly on the lake. The deck provides outdoor seating for lunch hour, meetings, and other gatherings. Our Ithaca Style cable railing allows the cool lake breeze to blow through the entire area, which is especially important during the hot Texas summers. The 42″ high cable railing adds a clean and modern look to the facility’s outdoor space and showcases the lake’s natural beauty. Cable railing was an excellent choice to create a safe barrier between the deck and the water without blocking the view.

For the steel posts, we chose a “Sparkle Silver” powder coat that blends in with the dark water behind the railing. This color accents the natural environment instead of pulling attention away from the lake. Furthermore, we used 3/16″ diameter stainless steel cables for the railing infill and hid the cable fittings within the railing posts. These details give the railing system a clean and polished look. For the top rail, we used IPE Brazilian walnut.  The hardwood will naturally turn gray over time and add to the overall modern appeal of the railing. IPE is well-suited for a lakeside railing application; it has high durability and contains natural oils that make it resistant to mildew. The wood can last outdoors for more than 25 years.

The sleek appearance of the cable railing system also complements the architecture of the buildings within the development. All of the buildings within the Research Forest Lakeside facility have strikingly modern exteriors. Also, the campus is LEED-certified. Taking advantage of the natural beauty of the campus falls in line with Research Forest Lakeside’s green practices.