A series of fragmented blocks in downtown Tampa, Florida, became a proving ground for city-building centered on human comfort and wellbeing. The developer appointed Reed Hilderbrand at their project’s inception, seeking a public realm master plan to articulate strong civic values and to enact a holistic vision for wellness. The landscape architect defined Water Street Tampa through mature live oaks set within sidewalks dimensioned to permit 1,200 cubic feet of soil per tree, to sustain continuous canopy above, aiming to achieve 75% coverage in 10 years. Principles of comfort, connectivity, and resilience guided realization of Water Street’s first six blocks and its certification in 2023 as the first-ever WELL Standard Community.