Sustainable Sites Initiative

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Pilot Projects

To learn more about the individual projects, click below.

Mixed Use Transportation corridors/Streetscape Commercial

Open space - Garden/Arboretum Institutional/Educational Residential

Open space - Park Governmental complex Industrial

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Alderwood Longterm Care Facility
Baddeck, Cape Breton
Project Type: Residential
Project Team: Highland Landscapes for Lifestyle; Ekistics Planning & Design; WHW Architects; Alderwood Corporation
Description: The Alderwood Rest Home is a greenfield development that is measuring and evaluating the sustainability goals and deliverables that will contribute to improvements in landscape design, construction and maintenance. Protection, restoration, environmental mitigation, orientation, plantings, walkways, outdoor rooms, and hardscape have been strategically combined to provide an environment that enhances resident wellness, optimizes resident's outdoor usage and integrates the property's diverse natural environment.

Centre for Urban Ecology Sustainable Landscape Leadership Initiative
Toronto, Ontario
Project Type: Open space - Garden/Arboretum
Project Team: Humber Arboretum, Humber College Research Department
Description: This greyfield mixed use project will retrofit a landscape associated with a LEED Gold Certified building to augment ecosystem services and research sustainable technology. Changes will be made to failing green walls, a bird feeding and wildlife habitat area, paved pathways and unpaved trails, ponds, ravines, and woodlands. An outdoor events space and compost area will be created, and the project will generate a Canadian model for sustainable landscape design, construction, and management. For more information on this project, click on the following article: Humber Arboretum Centre to Test Sustainable Landscape Rating.

Wildflower Farm
Coldwater, Ontario
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: Wildflower Farm Inc., Paul Jenkins, Miriam Goldberger
Description: Wildflower Farm will include the establishment and growth of a native plant nursery, demonstration gardens and seed production fields to help demonstrate the low maintenance and sustainability of native wildflowers and grasses on a large commercial scale without the use of any irrigation.

Health Village Fludir
Fludir, Iceland
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: Health Village Fludir Ltd. and Vist & Vera ltd.
Description: This 16-acre greenfield project is associated with Iceland's first health village. Site plans will focus on creating a walkable and ADA accessible environment including health paths, fitness zones, a series of natural open spaces, and a healing garden. Vehicular traffic will be limited and parking placed on the outer periphery. The project is seen as an opportunity to test SITES guidelines in Iceland and serve as a model for sustainable development in the country. (http://healthvillage.is)

Irita business park
Zarautz, Gipuzkoa
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: AH asociados, Zarautko Industrialdea S.A, SPILUR
Description: Irita business park converts a deteriorated, peripheral area of 15.25 acres into a light industrial and business park focused on the stimulation of emergent technologies. An area reserved for marshland, which occupies approximately 4 acres, reinforces the environmental restoration of the area, eliminating extensive invasive, foreign species and re-colonizing native plants appropriate for the marine environment. The services have been designed to provide for the needs of the future business park, while reducing environmental impact to a minimum.

Birmingham Regional Intermodal Facility
McCalla, Alabama
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: Norfolk Southern Corporation, DowLohnes Government Strategies LLC
Description: This commercial greenfield project involves construction of a new intermodal facility for trucks and rail. SITES certification would complement LEED certification for the facility's main administrative building and demonstrate Norfolk Southern's commitment to leadership in environmental practices and partnerships. The project will focus on mitigating noise, viewshed, and lighting intrusions into adjacent communities and include green space for landscaping, buffer zones, and storm water management.

Birmingham-Southern College Urban Environmental Park
Birmingham, Alabama
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: Derck & Edson Associates, LLP , Birmingham-Southern College, LBYD, Inc., CRS Engineering & Design Consultants, JOHNSONKREIS Construction Co., Inc.
Description: The Urban Environmental Park project is a destination for students and the larger community at Birmingham-Southern College. It provides an outdoor leisure area for students and creates a living laboratory and teaching venue, presenting technically complex issues to visitors in an accessible way. The park draws together the intramural fields, the nearby eco-garden and several lake-side amenities and connects to student residences, providing a unity for the campus greenspaces.

Paseo Vista Recreation Area
Chandler, Arizona
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: The City of Chandler, EPG, Dibble Engineering, Valley Rain Construction
Description: The Paseo Vista Recreation Area is a 65-acre park that is being installed on top of a closed landfill. Park amenities will include a disc golf course, archery lanes, dog park area, a unique playground and landfill interpretive area. Various recycled materials including concrete and asphalt millings from city roadway projects along with used tires, conveyor belt, and damaged pre-cast pipes were diverted from disposal to be used on the site as construction materials.

Tempe Transportation Center
Tempe, Arizona
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: City of Tempe, Otak + Architekton, A Dye Design, Michael Baker, Jr. Consulting Engineers
Description: This transit plaza replaces a 2.7 acre parking lot, linking the new METRO light rail to local/regional bus, the Bicycle Cellar, and Arizona State University. The mixed-use LEED building provides transit-oriented retail/restaurant at the plaza, where stormwater and graywater collection for irrigating native plants and vegetated bus shelters sustainably integrate public spaces with pedestrian circulation at a busy urban multi-modal hub. For more information on this project, click on the following article: Sustainable Landscaping .

Troon North Park
Scottsdale, Arizona
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: JJR|Floor; Weddle Gilmore Architects; Kland Engineering
Description: Troon North Park is located within a rugged Sonoran desert setting with steep terrain on the eastern half and a confluence of major washes from the west and north. The park was carefully integrated into the existing site to provide public access to a mix of active and passive activities. In addition to preserving extensive downstream washes and habitat, the project demonstrates innovative ways to design sustainably through the use of careful planning and analysis, the choice and utilization of materials, site salvage and reuse of plants, topsoil and rock materials, renewable solar energy, rainwater harvesting and LED lighting.

2001 Market Street
San Francisco, California
Project Type: Mixed Use
Project Team: April Philips Design Works, The Prado Group, BAR Architecture, William McDonough + Partners
Description: This mixed use project associated with replacing an auto dealership with a Whole Foods Market and residential condominiums above it synergizes landscape and building systems that are intended to be both LEED and SITES certified. Landscape features will include water catchment, living walls, urban agriculture and edible landscapes, community center, endangered species habitat for the San Bruno and Mission Blue Butterflies, storm water treatment, traffic calming, art and educational interpretation, and a zero waste recycling system. For more info, visit http://2001marketsf.com/

Annenberg Project at Lower Point Vicente
Rancho Palos Verdes, California
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: Annenberg Foundation, Melendrez, KPFF Consulting Engineers, Swatt / Miers Architects, Ganahl Construction Corporation
Description: The vision for this education and family destination is to create an area that connects the community to the ocean and the land, providing education, interpretative facilities, and recreational opportunities, linking the site to the trails at the Vicente Bluffs Reserve and beyond. Careful consideration is being given to the potential impact of the improvements on the surrounding environment, especially to neighboring homes.

Bioswales and Landscaping at Glen Oaks/Sunland Boulevards
Los Angeles, California
Project Type: Transportation corridors/Streetscape
Project Team: Hollywood Beautification Team, City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works
Description: This streetscape project will install bioswales, remove asphalt from medians, and install trees and plantings at the intersection of Glen Oaks and Sunland Boulevards in the San Fernando Valley. Storm water flooding will be mitigated and water will be captured and added to the water table for later use. The project is also associated with an ongoing job training program.

Boeddeker Park and Clubhouse Renovation
San Francisco, California
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: The Trust for Public Land - Project Management and Park Design; Sherwood Design Engineers; John Northmore Roberts & Associates; WRNS Studio; Rutherford and Chekene; Daedelus; Swinerton Management
Description: The Trust for Public Land (TPL) Parks for People Bay Area Program is converting this paved public park into an oasis for one of the densest, most diverse neighborhoods in San Francisco. A community-driven design process led to the conceptual design, which includes rain gardens, reuse of onsite materials, and design features to reduce the heat island effect; this project is an example of sustainable design in a tightly constrained, high-use urban environment.

Cottonwood Creek Park
Encinitas, California
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: Schmidt Design Group, Inc., Nolte Associates Inc., Helix Environmental Planning, Inc., Turpin and Rattan Engineering, Inc., Southland Geotechnical Consultants
Description: This 8-acre neighborhood park is notable for its incorporation of low impact development storm water practices. Two creeks were daylighted to create native riparian habitat; pervious concrete in walkways, driveway, and parking lot provides infiltration; and bioswales improve the quality of urban runoff that flows through the park. Interpretive signage informs park visitors about the watershed, plants, and animals of the riparian habitat and sustainably harvested IPE wood was used for observation decks and fencing.

Coyote House
Santa Barbara, California
Project Type: Residential
Project Team: Blackbird Architects, Inc., Van Atta Associates, Inc., Paul Franz Construction, RJ Foil Landscape
Description: Coyote House fosters a serene lifestyle, while contributing positively to site nutrient, material and water cycles. While high-tech strategies are part of the home, many regenerative and sustainable features of the project are decidedly simple. Many creative approaches include water harvesting, green roofs, native landscaping, composting and edible landscape, habitat restoration, and use of onsite or local materials for construction.

Environmental Laboratory for Sustainability and Ecological Education (ELSEE)
San Jose, California
Project Type: Open space - Garden/Arboretum
Project Team: The California Native Garden Foundation, Middlebrook Gardens
Description: Middlebrook Gardens is an outdoor student/intern/teacher laboratory for sustainable gardening and construction. The ELSEE project (sponsored by California Native Garden Foundation) is restoring the soil ecology, protecting food quality and watersheds, and assuring water and air quality for city residents. Sustainable features include a vertical farm, subterranean classroom, zero-waste composting, greywater systems, solar panels, and native edibles.

Headwaters Corner at Calabasas
Calabasas, California
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: Mountains Restoration Trust
Description: Headwaters Corner is a 12-acre interpretive center in the critical urban/wildland interface of Los Angeles and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation area. The goal of the project is to demonstrate to people how to be a positive factor in the ecosystem. The site contains a perennial headwater stream to the Los Angeles River, and representative examples of 5 plant communities: riparian, wetland, oak woodland, coastal sage scrub and grassland. Two single family structures are adapted for education and administration purposes with the intent to use them in green demonstrations.

HELIX Environmental Planning, Inc. Headquarters Landscape Conversion
La Mesa, California
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: HELIX Environmental Planning, Inc.; HELIX Environmental Construction Group
Description: The project is a landscape conversion of the HELIX headquarters from an over-watered lawn to a multi-use garden with native plants, walking paths, seating, gathering areas, compost bin, and food garden. The project will address runoff with potential detention basins, bioswales, or cisterns. Employee input shapes the project, which is a source of pride for the workers and the company.

Magnolia Power Plant
Burbank, California
Project Type: Industrial
Project Team: Burbank Water and Power; AHBE Landscape Architects
Description: The Magnolia Power Plant, operated by Burbank Water and Power is an exemplary model in sustainable design from its high-efficiency heat recovery steam generator down to the shared bikes throughout the plant's campus for employee transportation. Examples also include the plant's power generation which uses recycled water for steam, landscape areas use recycled water for irrigation which are managed by climate-based irrigation controllers and are planted with native, and/or drought tolerant species and a vegetated green roof. Currently in the design phase is a public green street demonstration project that is planned along the western edge of the campus as a means to communicate innovative stormwater management technologies to the city and adjacent community.

Menze-Draper residence
Sonoma, California
Project Type: Residential
Project Team: Jeanna Menze,WRA Evironmental Consultants,Carol Venolia Architect, Sonoma Ecology Center
Description: This project is a remodel of a single-family residence with the health of the Sonoma Creek watershed as a primary guiding principle for the landscape design. Rainwater catchment and storage, swales and retention/infiltration depressions, and native plants for low water use and habitat value will be primary features, as will recycled and reclaimed materials and reduction of energy use in the landscape, and reduced hardscape to improve infiltration opportunities. This project hopes to demonstrate that a sustainable landscape can also be a budget conscious landscape.

Science and Engineering 2 at UC-Merced
Merced, California
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: University of California, Merced; SmithGroup; Cliff Lowe Associates
Description: The Science & Engineering 2 facility is a 101,900 square feet LEED Gold building that will house teaching, research and office space for UC Merced's School of Engineering and School of Natural Sciences. The landscape plan for the site will reflect the San Joaquin Valley context, minimize irrigation and add memorable public spaces for students, faculty and staff to interact. For more information on this project, click on the following article: UC Merced Connect: Landscaping under green microscope.

Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens
Escondido, California
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: Schmidt Design Group, Inc., Stone Brewing Co.
Description: Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens was created as a park-like environment for dining, relaxing, exploration, and special events. The project represents an important concept in combining recreation with stormwater management and water quality improvements. Thousands of tons of local stone were used for walls and other decorative features and the planting palette is intentionally eclectic but grounded in regionally appropriate and edible species.

Sunnylands
Rancho Mirage, California
Project Type: Residential
Project Team: Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands, Ganahl Construction, The Cultural Landscape
Description: This project will improve the sustainability of the landscape at this 200-acre estate that hosts world leaders and dignitaries and is open to the public for tours. There will be a significant reduction in grassy areas, more native plants, an updated irrigation system, multiple steps for water conservation, and more. Adaptations and enhancements to the care and maintenance will demonstrate the protection of a landmark site, while bringing it closer to sustainability.

Tah.Mah.Lah Residence
Portola Valley, California
Project Type: Residential
Project Team: Paul Holland & Linda Yates, Thomas Klope Associates, Inc., Hill Glazier Architects, MGM Construction, Design AVEnues, Macleod Associates Civil Engineers, ICS Group Irrigation Design, Coast Range Ecology, TRA Environmental Sciences, Inc., Quilici Engineers, Murray Engineers, Bruce King, P.E., Rumsey Engineers, Biosphere Consulting, Bonny Doon Environmental Consulting, Clanton & Associates, H.T. Harvey & Associates, Total Habitat
Description: The Holland-Yates residence is a LEED Platinum home on 2.7 acres. When fully completed, the site design will be responsive to natural hydrology, soils, landform, vegetation, wildlife, climate, water, waste and energy flows. Wildlife corridors will be protected and enhanced, only native California plants are specified with the exception of an organic food garden on-site, and a new species of native grass sod is being developed for the project. The landscape will be irrigated exclusively by treated blackwater from the home and a 50,000-gallon subsurface rainwater & stormwater catchment system.

The Annenberg Center at Sunnylands
Rancho Mirage, California
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands, Ganahl Construction, the Office of James Burnett
Description: A new garden is being constructed at The Annenberg Center at Sunnylands. The garden design is based on Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art with repetition and massing of desert plants suited to the natural climatic conditions of the site. A highly efficient, fine-tuned irrigation system will minimize water requirements, while greenwaste will be recycled and reused. The importance of sustainability is threaded throughout the larger Center and will continue through the garden. For more information on this project, click on the following article: One of America’s Great Estates Becomes Truly Green .

The Meadow Farm
Santa Cruz, California
Project Type: Residential
Project Team: Sherwood Design Engineers, William McDonough and Partners, Bernard Trainor + Associates, Redhorse Constructors Inc.
Description: Goals for this greenfield residential project are to reduce waste, minimize demand for potable water, and use 100% renewable energy, regional materials, and native drought-tolerant plantings. On-site materials will be used as subbase for slab foundations and for earth rammed walls within buildings. Rainwater will be used in toilets and laundry, blackwater waste will be treated for use in irrigation, concrete pour tailings will be recycled into landscaping pavers, and an edible garden will be created.

UCSB Ocean sciences center
Santa Barbara, California
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: Arcadia Studio, EHDD, Penfield and Smith, University of California, Santa Barbara
Description: The UCSB Ocean Sciences Center is a teaching facility that provides educational opportunities for the community. Sustainability and education are the focuses of the project and with the site across the street from the ocean, water treatment was especially important. Team collaboration resulted in the design of a unique stormwater system, to use the landscape as a natural filtration system. This will be accomplished using plants, sand, and gravel, in conjunction with grading, to keep water on site.

Victoria Garden Mews
Santa Barbara, California
Project Type: Residential
Project Team: Allen Associates; Thompson-Naylor Architects; Grace Design Associates
Description: Victoria Garden Mews is a model project in downtown Santa Barbara's Historical Landmark District. An existing Victorian era house was rehabilitated to LEED Gold standards to preserve existing streetscape. A new three unit, three story building is currently under construction on site. Car lifts reduce space used for parking; 100% of stormwater remains on site; 100% of electrical need is provided by on-site PV; 100% of roof runoff is captured for irrigation; 100% permeable hardscape; communal gardens provide food and outdoor living space for residents.

Watson Park Remediation Phase I Improvements
San Jose, California
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: City of San Jose Department of Public Works; URS Corporation, Inc
Description: Watson Park is an existing developed 35-acre park adjacent to the Coyote Creek in San Jose, California. During excavation work for an addition to the Park's amenities, an old burn dump site was unexpectedly uncovered. This necessitated a revised Master Plan to incorporate site remediation efforts. Features include the installation of storm drainage including bioswales and parking areas to collect and filter stormwater prior to discharging into Coyote Creek.

Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center
Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: AJC Architects Inc.; Landmark Design Inc.; National Park Service; Stantec Consulting
Description: The site sensitive landscape design surrounding the VRC reflects this national park's mission to educate the public about the archeological, biological and physical resources of the park and their interconnectivity. Revegetation of the site will be accomplished through a mix of native and drought tolerant species while addressing concerns of fire danger. The project has been designed to achieve LEED Platinum certification.

Moss Rock Place
Boulder, Colorado
Project Type: Residential
Project Team: L.I.D. Landscapes, Nielsen Designs, LLC
Description: A residence in Boulder will be completely retrofitted to provide a case study in renewing both exterior and interior materials, adding energy efficiency, and incorporating new sustainable landscape features such as rainwater capture, use of recycled materials, and use of primarily native species. Geothermal, solar lighting, passive solar design, and high-efficiency drip irrigation will contribute to the goal of achieving net-zero energy use.

NREL - Research Support Facility (RSF) Phase 1 & 2
Golden, Colorado
Project Type: Governmental complex
Project Team: RNL Design; National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL); Haselden Construction; Martin & Martin; Architectural Energy Corporation
Description: This greyfield project at a former National Guard training facility consists of a 325-acre campus associated with a new research facility seeking LEED Platinum certification. The landscape framework includes stormwater detention areas, porous paving surfaces, prairie and arroyo restoration, native landscape adjacent to the building, site retaining walls constructed of on-site material, and energy efficient lighting. Regional materials and high recycled content will be emphasized in the selection of site materials and furnishings.

Staley Neighborhood Park
Fort Collins, Colorado
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: City of Fort Collins, A-L-M Architects
Description: Staley Neighborhood Park is presently an undeveloped 10-acre site in southeast Fort Collins, Colorado. The land was recently in agricultural use and has a small stream running through the site with minimal wetlands. The park will go through an extensive public process involving the surrounding neighbohrood. Designed as a day-use park, the plans include the resotoration of the stream to include new wetlands and protection of existing wetlands, low maintenance turf areas with more natural grasses, irrigation system, trees and landscape beds.

Oyster Shell Park
Norwalk, Connecticut
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: Norwalk Redevelopment Agency, Norwalk Recreation and Parks, BSC Group Inc., Tavella Design Group, LLC
Description: This new local park along the Norwalk River is part of the State Heritage Park system, located on a former landfill. Based on the theme of Art Education and the Environment, the design incorporates biofiltration of runoff, landscaping with native plants to enhance wildlife habitat, use of recycled materials such as glass pavers, and energy generation with alternative energy sources will demonstrate to the public the environmental and economic value of sustainable design practices while improving recreational asset quality. Trail connections will also be made to the nearby Maritime Aquarium and Stepping Stones Children's Museum. For more information on this project, click on the following article: Officials promote Oyster Shell Park.

American University School of International Service
Washington, District of Columbia
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: American University, Quinn Evans Architects, Whiting Turner
Description: The entrance plaza for the new School of International Service buildling at American University will be a gathering place and showcase for integrating sustainable design, student gathering space, and education. The building will be the first LEED building at AU and the plaza will complement it with an outdoor cafe , planting areas, and will be a new stop on the campus Arboretum tour.

Brent ES Schoolyard Greening
Washington, District of Columbia
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: Brent Elementary School PTA; Sustainable Life Designs
Description: Located five blocks from the nation's capitol, this greyfield project strives to transform the asphalt dominated grounds of an elementary school into a more sustainable site and educate students, parents, and neighborhood residents about green infrastructure. Past efforts have included pollinator gardens, an outdoor classroom, and improved storm water management with a rain garden, rain barrel, and bio-retention swale. The greening of a trash-strewn "urban canyon" behind the school is the focus of future plans.

Casey Trees' Brookland Offices
Washington, District of Columbia
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: Casey Trees, The Eller Group
Description: The Casey Trees Brookland Headquarters design uses trees to maximize canopy cover and manage stormwater. The site design showcases trees in various applications including infiltration planters for trees along 90 linear feet of sidewalk, two rain gardens with a diverse planting of trees and soil cells that create large soil volume for tree growth under the sidewalk. At maturity, the tree canopy will increase by 25% and demonstrate what is possible when public and non-profit institutions work together.

National Museum of African American History & Culture
Washington, District of Columbia
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: The Smithsonian Institution
Description: The Smithsonian Institution's new National Museum of African American History & Culture will combine a LEED Gold certified building with a sustainable landscape at the center of the nation's capital on the National Mall at the Washington Monument. The new museum site is also on the National Register of Historic Places, and will host millions of visitors every year.

Oxon Run Park Trail Rehabilitation Project
Washington, District of Columbia
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: Toole Design Group, LLC, D.C. Departments of Transportation, Environment, and Parks & Recreation
Description: This project will rehabilitate nearly 10 miles of trails and sidewalks within existing greyfield local park properties. Community input has prompted improvements to park facilities and connections with nearby community centers, schools, neighborhoods, and transit facilities to benefit commuters, pedestrians, bicyclists, and recreational users. Sustainability will be promoted through the use of innovative stormwater management, design materials, and environmental interpretation.

Square 80 Plaza at The George Washington University
Washington, District of Columbia
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: Studio 39 Landscape Architecture; Bowman Consulting Group; Irrigation Consultant Services; GHT Limited; Alliance Structural; Delta Fountains; Donohoe Construction; The George Washington University
Description: The Square 80 Plaza project will convert an existing parking lot into a landscaped urban park. The project will retain 100% of the on-site stormwater runoff through the use of permeable paving, hardscape diversion through use of runnels, and collection of site water into a system of 3 inter-connected cisterns. While all site plantings are native and adapted species, irrigation is still being provided and is fed by the cistern system. A water feature is provided on site and is also fed by the cistern system. The cistern sizing was calculated from irrigation demand load, which exceeded the calculated stormwater management load, ensuring retention of all water on-site.

The People's Garden (USDA)
Washington, District of Columbia
Project Type: Governmental complex
Project Team: USDA-Office of Operations, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA- Forest Service
Description: The landscape outside USDA headquarters has been redesigned to showcase sustainability, nutrition, and healthy eating through rainwater harvesting, removal of invasives, and installation of working beehives, a vegetable garden, and a green roof among other design elements. This new landscape will support the agency's educational mission while demonstrating to other public institutions that sustainable practices can be successfully implemented on a high profile, urban site with a rigorous aesthetic design requirement.

United States Botanic Garden- Bartholdi Park
Washington, District of Columbia
Project Type: Open space - Garden/Arboretum
Project Team: Architect of the Capitol, U.S. Botanic Garden, Ewing Cole & Andropogon Associates
Description: Bartholdi Park, a historic garden currently undergoing a major renovation, will include a demonstration garden for homeowners. The focus will be on different garden styles and plant options that all can be achieved using SITES guidelines. Each demonstration will be a synergistic solution for dynamic and holistic systems that can be interpreted for the home gardener, helping improve garden design and maintenance practices nationwide.

US Tax Court Landscape Renewal
Washington, District of Columbia
Project Type: Governmental complex
Project Team: U.S. General Services Administration
Description: The U.S. Tax Court Building is a greyfield site and governmental complex on the National Historic Register of Historic Places. GSA designers will repurpose a fountain in the building's landscaped plaza into a demonstration green roof planted with sedum to allow the public to experience a green roof at ground level. The green roof will also mitigate stormwater runoff, lower the building's heating and cooling costs, and reduce urban heat island effect.

Washington Canal Park
Washington, District of Columbia
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: Olin (Landscape Architecture); Studios Architecture (Pavilion Design)
Description: Washington Canal Park, a new public park in Washington, D.C., includes neighborhood-scale stormwater management systems to reuse water on-site and from surrounding buildings for irrigation, fountains, ice-rink water, and toilets; geothermal heating and cooling and solar hot water, electric vehicle charging stations, and emission-free maintenance equipment, while also functioning as a vital community resource for nearby low-income residents.

New U.S. Federal Office Building
Miramar, Florida
Project Type: Governmental complex
Project Team: General Services Administration (GSA)
Description: Office building and related facilities will house a single federal agency on a 20-acre site. The project will be certified through the USGBC Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system with a minimum target rating for this project of Silver level. The GSA minimum target rating in the Sustainable Sites (SITES) Pilot Program, is Two Stars.

parc24
Vero Beach, Florida
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.; Merrill Pastor Colgan Associates; Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
Description: parc24 is a 5-acre office campus which includes 112,000 s.f. of professional office space. The project utilizes native and drought tolerant plants, low volume irrigation and pervious pavement. Two separate green roof areas have been incorporated into Phase 1, which includes Kimley-Horn's office. The project will serve to showcase sustainable design features to Kimley-Horn clients and the general public.

1315 - The New Home of Perkins+Will Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Project Type: Mixed Use
Project Team: Perkins + Will, Kimley Horn and Associates, Site Development Consultants, Inc.
Description: 1315 is the urban rehabilitation of an existing building into a mixed-use development containing office, museum and public library. The project re-envisions a vehicle drop-off into a public plaza, routes roof drains to a cistern for building and site reuse, implements water features linked to rain gardens and mitigates soil to filter stormwater before releasing to the city system.

Amli Corporate Office
Kennesaw, Georgia
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: Piedmont Landscape Contractors, Amli Residential
Description: AMLI Residential's Eco-Office is a 20 year old two-story office building that is being redesigned so the landscape will achieve 100% potable water irrigation reduction as well as further enhancing the site features to protect the nearby Noonday Creek. Employee engagement has also contributed to the design process. The new sustainability features of the landscape and retrofitted building have made this a true leader in the city, showing how design regulations need to allow for innovation.

Breaking New Ground
Atlanta, Georgia
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: Piedmont Park Conservancy
Description: A plan is in effect to expand the City of Atlanta's most revered Park by 53 acres. Key priorities for Phase One include preparing the previously undeveloped land, reclaiming 4.4 acres of usable greenspace in the historic part of the park and integrating pathways and trails within the expanded and historic portions of Piedmont Park. The overall expansion project includes eliminating invasive non-native plants, re-grading steep terrain and returning a culverted creek to a free flowing stream. Features being added include new meadows for passive recreation, an interactive fountain, a multi-purpose field, a basketball court, an expanded Dog Park, playgrounds and other amenities

EcoManor
Atlanta, Georgia
Project Type: Residential
Project Team: Ed Castro Landscape, Rutherford and Laura Turner Seydel - Owner, Harrison Design Group, DeLany Rossetti Construction
Description: EcoManor is the first home in the Southeast to become LEED certified. The property includes reductions in impervious surfaces, infiltration features, passive and active solar energy, rainwater harvesting, greywater reuse in the landscape and a green roof.

Glenwood Park
Atlanta, Georgia
Project Type: Mixed Use
Project Team: Ed Castro Landscape, Good, O'Leary & Ryan, Green Street Properties
Description: Glenwood Park is a model community for New Urbanism and environmentally sustainable design. Several different designs and installations include Brasfield Square, Glenwood Park Amphitheater (which was also the detention pond), Cecil Square, and a street tree program. The park is built on a 28-acre brownfield site that was nearly covered with impervious concrete. Currently, it boasts nearly 1000 trees and other plant materials which help to provide shade and to reduce the heat island effect.

Historic Fourth Ward Park
Atlanta, Georgia
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: City of Atlanta - Office of Parks, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., HDR, Wood + Partners, Inc.
Description: Historic Fourth Ward Park, a new urban park located on a 20-acre brownfield site, will include civic open spaces, a water play area, playgrounds, historic artifacts, an amphitheater and a skate park. The park will connect directly to the future 22-mile BeltLine loop and will become the catalyst for additional redevelopment and reinvestment within the surrounding community.

Smartville Gardens
Gainesville, Georgia
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: Atlanta Botanical Garden; The Fockele Garden Company; Enota Multiple Intelligences Academy
Description: Located at a public elementary school, the project focuses on integrating the site as a teaching tool for students, parents, teachers, and the community. Permanent intepretive exhibits will demonstrate the sustainability goals of the project. The design includes harvesting rainwater, replacing substantial amounts of turf with an array of drought-tolerant plants, implementing significant passive rainwater components as well as eliminating the need for municipal water for irrigation.

Burnham Centennial-Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, Prairie Learning Centers
Wilmington, Illinois
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: Conservation Design Forum, Wheeler Kearns Architects, dbHMS
Description: Two separate but integrated open-air visitor and education areas are proposed for construction at this National Tallgrass Prairie that was once part of the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant. Design elements include outdoor classrooms, picnic areas, overlook stations, trails, and interpretive signage about the natural and cultural history of the site. All aspects of the project are intended to demonstrate green design principles including capturing and cleaning runoff before release into the restored prairie.

Commonwealth in the Village
Western Springs, Illinois
Project Type: Residential
Project Team: Lupfer Landscaping, Planning Resources, Inc., Kabbes Engineering, Northwind Perennial Farms, The Organic Garden Coach, Lake Street Landscape Supply, Rhodes Development Corp, Commonwealth-in-the Village South Townhome Association
Description: Commonwealth in the Village South, a townhome association in Western Springs, Illinois, is being redesigned to become a model sustainable development. The current state of the landscape is that of the traditional suburban turf grass townhouse development. The first goal is to renovate the existing landscape and eco-system, constructed under traditional development methods, using the Sustainable Sites Initiative methodology. Upon completion, several comparative analyses will be available; the association is one part of a larger development so a duplicate phase can be used to compare the landscapes and the contractor has historical maintenance data for a before and after comparison as well.

Hoffman Estates Marriott Hotel
Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: Brickman
Description: The site and hotel are within the Prairie Stone complex, a sustainable development since its inception 15 years ago. The existing conditions of the site offer opportunities to improve rain water runoff quality, potable water use reduction, soil health improvements, plant health care improvement practices and a change in sustainable site management practices. The project will contribute to collaboration on planning, executing, and studying improved site management practices nationwide.

ISA HQ Landscape Redesign
Champaign, Illinois
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: International Society of Arboriculture, University of Illinois Extension Champaign County, Parkland College
Description: The ISA HQ Landscape Redesign will restore and revitalize the grounds surrounding the headquarters of the International Society of Arboriculture. A collaborative effort between designer, employees, and neighbors will determine the best amenities such as picnic tables, quiet places for reflection and mental restoration, exercise stations, continuation of an adjoining native prairie planting and a quarter mile walking path.

Loves Park Playground Development
City of Loves Park, Illinois
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: Rockford Park District; Fehr-Graham & Assoc Inc.
Description: Loves Park Playground is a 6.5-acre park in the Rockford Park District. The property is a long-abandoned lumber yard with almost no pervious surfaces. The existing impervious surfaces of the lumber yard will be reused for a new parking lot and courts and a series of bioretention and rain gardens will be used to treat stormwater before entering a new detention basin. In applying the principles of the Sustainable Sites Initiative the Rockford Park District has the opportunity to make this project a model for the design and development of sustainable parks in Northern Illinois. For more information on this project, click on the following articles: Playground among test sites for green rating system and Loves Park playground to test sustainable landscape rating system.

Meadow Lake/Main Parking Lot at Morton Arboretum
Lisle, Illinois
Project Type: Open space - Garden/Arboretum
Project Team: The Morton Arboretum, Montgomery Watson Harza, C. Burke West Engineering
Description: This submittal includes two projects which were completed on The Morton Arboretum grounds and are adjacent. The Meadow Lake Restoration shore was re-graded, soils were amended, and over 68,000 plants were established. The Main Parking Lot project incorporates best management practices for managing stormwater impacts and nonpoint source water pollution. The surface is composed of a permeable interlocking concrete paver system. These two projects showcase The Morton Arboretum's commitment to sustainable design and construction while reinforcing the mission and vision of the arboretum.

North Grant Park Renovation
Chicago, Illinois
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Soodan & Associates, Krueck & Sexton Architects
Description: Three existing, underutilized greyfield sites will be recycled into one larger park space at the northern tip of Grant Park adjacent to new residential neighborhoods. More than half the park will be built over an existing parking garage and a new children's museum. Programming will include bike and walking paths, playgrounds, and sledding hills, and underground water storage tanks will be used to offset the need for irrigation water during the park's establishment period.

Rainwater Glen and Woodland at Rice Plant Conservation Science Center
Glencoe, Illinois
Project Type: Open space - Garden/Arboretum
Project Team: Chicago Botanic Garden, Oehme, van Sweden & Associates, Brown + Associates
Description: This 3.7-acre greenfield project is associated with a LEED Gold certified building. Design elements include a Rainwater Glen that captures all runoff from an access roadway and parking area and excess runoff from a green roof, as well as rejuvenation of a woodland area by eradicating invasive vegetation and replanting native species. Interpretative panels flanking the bridge overlooking the Rainwater Glen provide visitors with practical insight into incorporating rain gardens at the residential scale.

The Joy Garden
Chicago, Illinois
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: Northside College Preparatory High School, Urban Habitat Chicago, Repkin Biosystems
Description: The Joy Garden is a former brownfield between the Northside College Prep High School and the North Shore Channel. Extensive soil remediation and regeneration has begun to undo the onsite salt contamination and soil compaction. This is a case study that demonstrates how to achieve low-cost, volunteer-based, and community-led redevelopment of brownfields. The Joy Garden will ultimately provide local sustainable agriculture for the community and expanded habitat along the North Shore Channel. For more information on this project, click on the following article: UHC’s Joy Garden Chosen to Participate in SITES 2-year Pilot Program

Tuthill Corporation Headquarters
Burr Ridge, Illinois
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: Conservation Design Forum, Conservation Land Stewardship, Serena Strum Architects
Description: This greenfield commercial project integrates building and site functions on 12-acres of land adjoining a 15-acre pond wetland complex. Stormwater infrastructure designed to cleanse and infiltrate water on-site and reduce the generation of surface runoff is integrated with native landscape restoration that includes preservation of a 2-acre remnant prairie. A strong connection is also made between indoor and outdoor spaces through provision of pathways leading to resting spots.

Purdue Research Park, Phase III, Part II
West Lafayette, Indiana
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: Purdue Research Foundation, The Schneider Corporation, JFNEW, Indiana Wildlife Federation
Description: The Purdue Research Foundation currently is designing an expansion of the Purdue Research Park of West Lafayette, a nationally acclaimed technology park that supports business incubation and economic development. The expansion will include features and amenities for tenants and the community including green streets, ponds, wetlands, and trails. The Foundation also is working with the Indiana Wildlife Federation to designate the development as a Wildlife Friendly Park.

Super Bowl Village - Georgia Street Improvements
Indianapolis, Indiana
Project Type: Transportation corridors/Streetscape
Project Team: RATIO Architects, Crawford, Murphy & Tilly Inc., IEI - Infrastructure Engineering Inc., Heapy Engineering
Description: The 2012 Super Bowl provides impetus for this greyfield streetscape project which will create a 'green street' as part of revitalizing a downtown district. Green design methods and sustainable practices to be employed will include natural stormwater management, rainwater harvesting, and rain gardens. This project will serve as a model for implementation of these methods and practices to streets in other districts and neighborhoods. For more information on this project, click on the following article: Super Street for the Super Bowl.

Green & Main
Des Moines, Iowa
Project Type: Mixed Use
Project Team: Silent Rivers, Inc, Green Bean LLC, Barker Lemar and Associates
Description: An abandoned 13,000-square foot urban site and adjacent 90 year old building provide an opportunity to demonstrate sustainable renovation in this mixed-use brownfield project. Stormwater management practices that reduce the hydraulic loading on the city storm sewer system, recharge the ground water table, and improve quality of infiltrated water will be showcased. Public events, web cameras, and classes will publicize these practices and provide a sustainable model for rural communities throughout the Midwest.

Early Learning Village
New Orleans, Louisiana
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: Mithun, Waggonner & Ball, Magnusson Klemencic, Krebs, LaSalle, Lemieux, ARUP, Hands On! Inc., Vergeront Museum Planning
Description: The Early Learning Village (ELV), located on 10-acres within New Orleans' City Park, is committed to demonstrating best practices for site stewardship and potentially regenerative systems to multiple generations of Louisianans. Primary objectives of the project are to connect children to the outdoors through play, provide resources for families to connect and heal the fears and worries that remain from Katrina and provide opportunities to generate awareness about New Orleans relationship with the River, the delta and nature's dynamic forces. The site program includes gardens, lagoon edge restoration, tree preservation, water access, play spaces, outdoor cafe space and outdoor exhibits.

Floating House
New Orleans, Louisiana
Project Type: Residential
Project Team: Make It Right Foundation, Morphosis
Description: The house designed and developed by Morphosis architects and graduate students at UCLA's School of Architecture and Urban Design is the first floating house permitted in the United States and a perfect example of the kind of real world solutions we are working to advance at the Make It Right Foundation mission of creating sustainable, affordable housing alternatives.

Lower Ninth Ward Sustainable Infrastructure Project
New Orleans, Louisiana
Project Type: Transportation corridors/Streetscape
Project Team: Make It Right Foundation, William McDonough + Partners, BNIM Architects, Siteworks Studio, Hood Design, DJ+PELA, MCG, Burk-Kleinpeter Inc., Olsson & Associates
Description: The Lower Ninth Ward Sustainable Infrastructure Project began as a city project for infrastructure replacement in the flood damaged neighborhood in New Orleans. Make It Right was invited to coordinate design services due to their pioneering success using pervious concrete as an alternative to traditional pavement. The project evolved into a highly collaborative multi-disciplinary effort to develop an innovative streetscape design within the flood-damaged project site.

New Orlean Festival and Recreation Complex
New Orleans, Louisiana
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: New Orleans City Park, Torre Design Consortium
Description: As part of City Park's redevelopment efforts due to Hurricane Katrina, a 63-acre Festival and Recreation Complex is being created. This project will refurbish a former golf course, turning it into a multi-purpose site that will serve as a vibrant destination for all citizens and visitors to the New Orleans Metropolitan Area. Funded by a federal Community Development Block Grant, the project will provide for improving the site drainage, constructing four soccer fields, installing an electrical distribution system to support community events, building a large reunion shelter, and the construction of a biking/jogging path. For more information on this project, click on the following article: Measuring the green in greenspace .

Adkins Arboretum's Native Garden Gateway
Ridgely, Maryland
Project Type: Open space - Garden/Arboretum
Project Team: Adkins Arboretum, Lake/Flato Architects, Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Inc. Landscape Architects, Andrews Miller & Associates; Earthly Ideas, LLC
Description: Adkins Arboretum's Native Garden Gateway includes the redesign of the arboretum's main entrance and parking areas to reduce impervious surfaces and filler runoff through soils and native vegetation. The proposed project, associated with the expansion of the arboretum's visitor center, will demonstrate how low-impact stormwater management techniques that support natural systems can replace conventional, piped stormwater systems.

Anacostia Watershed Society Headquarters
Bladensburg, Maryland
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: Anacostia Watershed Society with expertise from Mary Abe, RLA, LEED AP; Michael Severner, PE, BCEE; Amin Omidy, ASLA
Description: Built in 1752, our headquarters is the historic George Washington House. A brownfield site, the project strives for pre-development infiltration rates, minimizing impervious surface, honoring the site's heritage, and recreating habitat. Economical and aesthetic sustainable site development will provide leadership and educational opportunities for the organization to fulfill its core mission of restoring the Anacostia River and surrounding watershed biohabitat.

Evans Parkway Neighborhood Park Renovation
Silver Spring, Maryland
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: The Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission; Oculus; Ecotone, Inc.; Bohler Engineering
Description: The design for this 7.3-acre existing park emphasizes a more natural treatment of the park. A concrete-lined stream will be naturalized and restored, including riparian plantings which will serve as a demonstration project for future naturalization efforts within the area. Paved areas are kept to a minimum. The plan also includes opportunities for active play to cater to the needs of neighborhood residents.

Marriott Headquarters
Bethesda, Maryland
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: Brickman
Description: The Marriott Headquarters is a suburban corporate campus in Bethesda, Maryland. The existing conditions of the site offer opportunities to improve rain water runoff quality, potable water use reduction, soil health improvements, plant health care improvement practices and a change in sustainable site management practices. The project will contribute to collaboration on planning, executing, and studying improved site management practices nationwide.

The Rain Garden at Brookside Gardens
Wheaton, Maryland
Project Type: Open space - Garden/Arboretum
Project Team: The Low Impact Development Center, J&G Landscapes, Brookside Gardens, Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection RainScapes Program
Description: This garden on a greyfield site, formerly occupied by two ponds that overflowed in storm events, demonstrates sustainable design strategies for resolving drainage problems. Runoff directed to rain garden cells is used to irrigate native plants appropriate to the Chesapeake Bay watershed growing in bioretention soils with minimal inputs. Permeable concrete pavement has been installed to improve handicapped accessibility while increasing infiltration, and stone from the original ponds was recycled on-site in new seat walls. For more information on this project, click on the following article: Wheaton landscapes among first to take ‘green’ test .

Trudeau Residential Landscape
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Project Type: Residential
Project Team: Natural Resources Design, Inc., Gardens for all Seasons, North Star Foundations, Inc., Green Legacy Tree Consultants, Inc., Jeanine Trudeau
Description: The Trudeau Residential Landscape is located in a Washington, D.C. suburb. This project hopes to serve as an example of a small suburban residential site appropriate for many in-fill projects where stormwater management, soil and native plant communities restoration are integrated with fine design to create a showplace of sustainable landscaping.

Andover Bancroft Elementary School
Andover, Massachusetts
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: Symmes Maini & McKee Associates
Description: A new elementary school is planned for a 21-acre site within an existing neighborhood. The design will include protection of woods and wetlands and the addition of walking/biking paths. The goal is to integrate the existing environmental features, areas of new sustainable landscape, and a LEED or MA CHPS certified building.

Garden of Peace
Dorchester, Massachusetts
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: The Boston Project Ministries, Talbot-Norfolk Triangle Neighbors United
Description: The Garden of Peace is a community-driven pocket park. The Urban Ecology Institute [UEI], through its CityRoots Program, provided technical landscape design and ecology consulting to complement and strengthen existing community organizing efforts. The goal of this project was to organize neighbors around open space issues in light of increasing development in the community. The site is a 2,250-square foot lot located on a main through-way at a school bus stop. It has been used as a cut-through for students. Site analyses and soil tests were conducted by youth in the community and charrette and design feedback sessions were held with the neighborhood association, all which contributed in the development of the park.

Living Classroom Initiative at UMass-Dartmouth
Dartmouth, Massachusetts
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: UMass Dartmouth, Walden Forest Conservation, G. Bourne Knowles &Co, Mass Wildlife, Town of Dartmouth
Description: The UMass Dartmouth Office of Campus and Community Sustainability plans to develop the 750-acre campus as a model of sustainable land use and a living classroom for students and community members. Notable features of the property include nearly 400 acres of forest, wetland meadow, intact native grassland, a perennial stream, and a coastal plain pond. Plans also include lawn alternatives, the use of native plant materials, forest stewardship, restoration of wetland habitat and protecting environments for species of concern.

Grand Valley State University Student Recreation Fields
Allendale, Michigan
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: Grand Valley State University, Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc., Integrated Architecture
Description: The Student Recreation Fields project at Grand Valley State University encompasses approximately 65-acres of development. The three phase project includes a new rugby field, lacrosse field, 300-meter track, two softball fields, track throws area, picnic shelters, and a concessions/locker rooms/scoring building. A 44-acre wetland complex will be constructed in multiple cells for stormwater treatment of runoff generated from this project and the surrounding campus. Captured stormwater in underground detention, as well as the wetland complex, will be reused in the campus irrigation system. Future walking trails, and overlook structures within the wetland complex will provide recreational opportunities (hiking, bird watching) to the student population and the surrounding community.

The Kresge Foundation Headquarters
Troy, Michigan
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: The Kresge Foundation, Conservation Design Forum, Valerio Dewalt Train, Farr Associates, Progressive AE
Description: The 86-year-old Kresge Foundation expanded their 2.75-acre headquarters site in Troy, Michigan. The new building and site provide natural light, clean air, and a strong connection to water and plants from the offices and meeting rooms, and is a model to learn about sustainable design practices. Careful evaluation and integration of green development techniques throughout the design process provides its occupants a strong connection to a living environment.

Urban Alternatives House
Flint, Michigan
Project Type: Residential
Project Team: The University of Michigan – Flint, Genesee County Land Bank, THA Architects + Engineers, ROWE Professional Services Company
Description: The Urban Alternatives House sits on a half acre of tax foreclosed property in the Carriage Town Neighborhood and close to The University of Michigan – Flint campus. The site will include an urban garden for local food production, native plantings, on-site water management and site features that will demonstrate the application of sustainable design and construction practices to the community. For more information on this project, click on the following articles: Urban alternatives house will test sustainable landscape rating system and UM-Flint Urban Alternatives House selected for national program .

Cobblestone Creek
Winona, Minnesota
Project Type: Residential
Project Team: Phillips Development Inc., Barr Engineering Company, WHKS & Co
Description: Sustainable development and conservation are emphasized at this greyfield residential project consisting of detached single family homes. Building covenants limit impervious surface coverage on lots and disturbance to vegetation, narrow streets conforming to natural land contours minimize clearing and grading, highly erodible slopes are protected from development, and stormwater is treated on-site and infiltrated back to the water table via a system of rainwater gardens that also serve as amenities for residents. For more information on this project, click on the following article: Empty lots continue to plague Cobblestone Creek development.

Novus Headquarters Campus
St. Charles, Missouri
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: Novus International Inc, SWT Design, Landesign LLC, University of Missouri, Cowell Engineering, Stock & Associates Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Description: The Novus Headquarters Campus enhancement plan preserves and enhances natural habitats, focuses on improving vegetation, hydrology of the site and creates an active and healthy environment employees can be proud of and inspired to interact in. The University of Missouri has set base lines and will continue a habitat monitoring program employees will participate in. Monitoring will include green roofs, water quality, bird and insect identification and other sustainable features. For more information on this project, click on the following article: Novus International Headquarters to Undergo Sustainable Landscaping

Project Living Proof
Kansas City, Missouri
Project Type: Residential
Project Team: Metropolitan Energy Center, Black & Veatch, Patti Banks Associates
Description: Project Living Proof is a residential demonstration of sustainable and regenerative design. Situated in a district that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 7000-square foot site is representative of a Midwestern urban or first-ring suburban development The grounds will feature native and regional-appropriate turf and plantings, rain catchment and infiltration strategies, and smart irrigation methods. The deconstruction and restoration of the site will be characterized by cautiousness, as actions are planned and executed, materials are handled, and the surrounding systems are considered. For more information on this project, click on the following article: Project Living Proof providing an example of sustainable residential gardens.

SWT Design campus
St. Louis, Missouri
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: SWT Design, Tri Square Construction, Sheild Systems
Description: SWT Design's commitment to the environment and community is evident in the recent expansion. In 2008, SWT Design expanded to an adjacent property preserving and improving the existing facade streetscape. The new addition and green roof, rain garden and permeable paving created a zero stormwater runoff scenario. Now the site is used as a demonstration space for clients and the community to learn about Best Management Practices for a variety of design methodologies.

Assurity Life Insurance New Home Office Building
Lincoln, Nebraska
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: Clark Enersen Partners, Kestrel Design Group, Olsson Associates
Description: This greyfield commercial site is located in a redeveloping central city district and integrates sustainable stormwater practices with landscape. Surface and roof runoff will be directed into an underground cistern created from three abandoned storm drainage structures. Stored water will be used to irrigate site vegetation including the green roof of a new office building. Trail connections will also be made to a nearby public park, linking that space to the site's open space.

Bat Cave Draw and Visitor Center Rehabilitation
Carlsbad, New Mexico
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: National Park Service
Description: Parking lot runoff containing contaminants such as motor oil and antifreeze has been found in cavern pools. This brownfield project will remove the existing parking area adversely impacting the cavern and rehabilitate it to a natural state using vegetation native to this national park. Additional work will be done to collect and treat runoff in new parking areas to protect the cave and to revegetate areas adjacent to the visitor center and the park's entrance road.

Pat Hurley Park Hillside Development
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: City of Albuquerque, Morrow Reardon Wilkinson Miller, Ltd., Bohannan Huston, Inc.
Description: Pat Hurley Park Hillside Development includes the construction of a pedestrian path to link existing upper and lower park spaces, the reconstruction of two entry plazas in the lower park, extensive soil stabilization and stormwater management measures, slope revegetation, and integral art installations. This park serves as an example of comprehensive planning for sustainability, pioneering construction methods, monitoring of long-term success, and integration of physical and social program elements.

Pete V. Domenici United States Courthouse Sustainable Landscape Renovation
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Project Type: Governmental complex
Project Team: Rios Clementi Hale Studios, General Service Administration
Description: The Pete V. Domenici United States Courthouse consists of a large concrete and lawn entry plaza with fountain over a garage, a rear surface parking lot, and lawn surrounding a historic sculpture. All site and building stormwater runoff will be collected and reused to establish xeric plants. The project reconceives the landscape around the building as continuous rain garden utilizing broken concrete bench walls and infiltration trenches to create pockets to restore native plant habitat. This integrated and accessible park-like landscape design is derived from a study of the site's cultural and environmental patterns and is adapted to the unique climate and hydrology of the Rio Grande Basin.

Roosevelt Park Renovation
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: William S. Perkins, Mountain West Golfscapes, Kopelov Construction Inc.
Description: Renovation approaches and methods of this local park, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, include the use of non-potable water for irrigation, care and rehabilitation of mature trees, and public education on the historic significance of the park. Future goals include monitoring plant health, water use, and community satisfaction so that lessons learned can be applied to renovating other city parks.

UNM College of Education Addition
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: University of New Mexico; Gregory T. Hicks and Associates; Morrow Reardon Wilkinson Miller
Description: This project is the construction of a new building in the College of Education complex on the main campus of the University of New Mexico and is currently pursuing LEED Platinum certification. The once open turf lot is replaced with new native and naturalized plantings, oriented along a drainage swale system. Stormwater drainage is captured in a series of small ponding areas that allow infiltration and provide passive water harvesting. The surfacing material consists of gravel mulch from local sources as well as bark mulch created by chipping the limited number of trees that were removed within the footprint of the building addition.

Buffalo Public School #81
Buffalo, New York
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: Joy Kuebler Landscape Architect, PC, LP Ciminelli on behalf of Buffalo Public Schools, Landscape Structures, Inc.
Description: Buffalo Public School #81 is an outdoor learning garden at a public school site and is designed to provide a teaching space for grades pre-kindergarten to grade 4. Focused on play, learning and children's health, the outdoor learning garden calls upon the natural environment as a teaching tool to meet the mandated curriculum.

Cornell University's Mann Library Entrance
Ithaca, New York
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: Dept. of Landscape Architecture, Cornell University
Description: Mann Library Improvement plans to replace the landscape area along the west face of Mann Library, approximately 7,800-square feet of very prominent space at the library's entrance. This space is a very public, busy site that could help support student interaction. The Landscape Architecture/Horticulture 4910/4912, Creating the Urban Eden, has been asked to take on the renovation of this important site on campus spanning two academic semesters. The proposed design will be based in part on a detailed site assessment that will inform the design process.

Fort Totten North Park
Queens, New York
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: Nancy Owens Studio LLC, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, Walter B. Melvin Architects, LLC, Great Ecology & Environments, McLaren Engineering Group, Joan Geismar, Ph. D., LLC, Mary Dierickx
Description: The North Park is a distinct landscape with its own vocabulary derived from the historical layers and natural features of the site. The design of the North Park and strategies set forth in the Master Plan are intended to enhance public appreciation of the history and ecology of the site, provide improved recreational opportunities, and promote healthy waterfront ecosystems.

Goat Island Landscape and Site Restoration Plan
Niagara Falls, New York
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: New York State Office of Parks, Trowbridge & Wolf Landscape Architects, Erdman Anthony Engineers
Description: The restoration plan for this state park project adjacent to Niagara Falls has a long-term maintenance component and a near-term construction component. A comprehensive set of design and maintenance guidelines for the Goat Island complex including removing invasive plant species, stabilizing and restoring eroded soils, reducing impervious surfaces, and conducting sustainable landscape maintenance will be implemented in demonstration projects on two small nearby islands. Lessons learned will create a blueprint for park maintenance state-wide.

Hempstead Plains Interpretive Center
Garden City, New York
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: Friends of Hempstead Plains at Nassau Community College, Nassau County, RGR Landscape Architecture & Architecture, PLLC, Constance T. Haydock, Landscape Architect, P.C.
Description: This 19-acre greenfield site on the campus of Nassau Community College was grazing and farming land for early Long Island settlers before becoming part of the historic Mitchel Field Air Force Base. Development plans connect the site to its prairie past by enhancing native species and habitat areas, create a visitor center and classroom powered by alternative energy, and provide interpretive trails for visitors to learn about Long Island history and ecology.

Hunts Point Landing
Bronx, New York
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects, Halcrow, HDR/LMS, Dewberry, Russell Design
Description: Hunts Point Landing is a 1.5-acre park that is part of the South Bronx Greenway Master Plan. The project will convert a former coal gasification plant site and de-mapped street into a public recreation amenity, including bike and pedestrian paths and access to water activities on the East River. This project intends to serve as an example for future reclamation of riverside, industrial brownfield sites.

Long Island Solar Farm
Upton, New York
Project Type: Industrial
Project Team: BP Solar; Brookhaven National Laboratory; Long Island Power Authority
Description: Energy production from the 32 megawatt solar photovoltaic array associated with this high-profile, brownfield project will avoid~34,000 tons of carbon dioxide a year and provide clean, renewable energy (equivalent to ~4,700 homes). Project site plans include removing invasive species and planting native species, wildlife friendly fencing, protecting wetlands, enhancing habitat for endangered Eastern Tiger Salamanders, and anti-reflective coating on solar modules.

Native Plant Garden at the New York Botanical Garden
Bronx, New York
Project Type: Open space - Garden/Arboretum
Project Team: New York Botanical Garden, Oehme, van Sweden and Associates, Inc., CMS Collaborative, Langan Engineering & Environmental Services,Robert Silman Associates, Nitsch Engineering, Pine & Swallow Environmental Services
Description: A new educational native plant garden is planned for 3.5-acres in the heart of The New York Botanical Garden. Woodland, meadow, and aquatic plantings will surround a water feature that incorporates biofiltration and stormwater management techniques. Paths, boardwalks, and bridges will be constructed using locally sourced and recycled materials and sited to preserve existing soil profiles and plantings.

Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park
Beacon, New York
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: Reed Hilderbrand Associates, Scenic Hudson Land Trust Inc., Divney Tung Schwalbe, Ecosystems Strategies Inc., McLaren Engineering Group
Description: This project rehabilitates a 25-acre brownfield site on the historic Hudson River waterfront in Beacon, New York. The plan increases public access to the river, remediates degraded ecological circumstances, and restores diverse ecological function to upland, wetland, and intertidal zones. The program includes a park pavilion, kayak shelter, beach access, parking, innovative reuse of materials found on site, public education, and site interpretation of history, locality, and ecology.

West Point Foundry Preserve
Cold Spring, New York
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: Scenic Hudson, Inc.; Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects, P.C.; Stearns & Wheler GHD, Inc.; C&G Partners LLC; Li/Saltzman Architects; P.C.; Liam O'Hanlon Engineering, P.C.; Frederick P. Clark Associates, Inc.; Slocum Consulting; Michigan Technological University
Description: The West Point Foundry Preserve project is creating a sustainable heritage destination on the 87-acre site of West Point Foundry (1818-1911), a leader during America's Industrial Revolution. Aided by extensive archaeological fieldwork, designers have merged public access and historic preservation with habitat restoration. Interpretation will tell the foundry's story including its manufacture of Parrott guns, credited with winning the Civil War and the land's ecological renewal.

Education Center Site at NC Botanical Garden
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Project Type: Open space - Garden/Arboretum
Project Team: North Carolina Botanical Garden
Description: This greenfield project is associated with LEED platinum certification being sought for the garden's new Education Center centrally located within a 5-acre site. The project will install water-wise, drought-tolerant plantings, capture stormwater in cisterns for reuse in irrigation, create multiple rain garden and bio-retention sites, divert 95% of construction debris from landfills, salvage trees for materials reuse, and integrate universal access throughout building and landscape.

Highfields Farm equestrian facility
Danbury, North Carolina
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: Sustainable Stables, Michael and Suzi Morehead, Blackburn Architects, Atomic Solar, N.C. Native Plant Society, Steven Cole Builders
Description: Highfields Farm covers 240 acres of Piedmont forest, scenic riverfront, and rolling pasture. The landowners are planning to build an equestrian facility using sustainable practices, including on-site lumber harvesting, renovation of historic cabins, conservation easements, solar energy, and more. A hybrid between residential and agricultural development, equestrian facilities present unique conservation challenges, such as good management of soil and water resources.

Horseshoe Farm Park
Raleigh, North Carolina
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department, Lappas + Havener, Frank Harmon Architect, Consider Design, Mulkey, Inc., Biohabiats, Inc., Integrated Water Strategies, Monroe Timberland Consultants, Inc.
Description: Horseshoe Farm Park's 146 acres lie within an oxbow of the Neuse River in Raleigh, North Carolina. The park will enhance the site's existing pastures and woodlands as an aesthetic, environmental, and historic treasure. Sustainable design principles will protect a variety of habitats on site by minimizing site disturbance and implementing sustainable building systems, with the goal of educating visitors about the site's natural systems. For more information on this project, click on the following article: Measuring the green in greenspace.

Prairie Ridge Ecostation
Raleigh, North Carolina
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Frank Harmon Architect PA, Judy Harmon Landscape Architecture, Little and Little Landscape Architects PLLC
Description: Prairie Ridge Ecostation serves as the field station for the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. The field station consists of 45 acres of restored and reconstructed prairie, forests, streams, ponds, native plant gardens, and arboretums. This ongoing restoration converts abandoned university pasture land into an outdoor laboratory for students and the public to learn about the natural world while engaging in scientific field research.

Smart-Sustainable Landscapes
Durham, North Carolina
Project Type: Residential
Project Team: John Deere, Duke University, NC State University
Description: Smart-Sustainable Landscapes will extend residential sustainability concepts to the outdoor landscape and take a comprehensive approach to reviewing design, construction, and management factors. The site will be assessed in its existing form, and will also be assessed after the construction of an optimized, smart-sustainable landscape that matches the SITES criteria and optimizes potential ecosystem service benefits of the site. A broad and diverse group of stakeholders are to be involved collaboratively in this project. For more information on this project, click on the following articles: John Deere participates in the Sustainable Sites Initiative with special landscape project and John Deere to participate in the Sustainable Sites Initiative.

The Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden
Durham, North Carolina
Project Type: Open space - Garden/Arboretum
Project Team: Sarah P. Duke Gardens
Description: The Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden will focus on sustainable green practices, hands-on horticulture, and nature discovery for people of all ages. The garden will manage rainfall on site with a rain garden at the lowest level. Outdoor classroom spaces will have green roofs, water collection cisterns, and a greywater system will be included. This garden will aim to demonstrate how achievable sustainability can be for the average homeowner and gardener.

Cleveland's Public Garden: Modeling Sustainability in the Rust Belt
Cleveland, Ohio
Project Type: Open space - Garden/Arboretum
Project Team: Cleveland Botanical Garden, Doty and Miller Architects, Behnke and Associates
Description: This public garden will demonstrate best sustainability practices on both the residential and institutional scales. Initiatives will include six demonstration gardens to provide practical and replicable examples of sustainable landscaping practices for the trade and garden visitors, installation of a living roof on its visitor center, re-landscaping a quarter acre lawn for reduced maintenance, rainfall capture from conservatory walls, and reduction of potable water runoff and use on site.

Holden Arboretum Visitor Center Gardens
Kirtland, Ohio
Project Type: Open space - Garden/Arboretum
Project Team: Holden Arboretum
Description: This greenfield site associated with the public garden's new visitor center provides opportunities for wetland enhancement, woodland preservation, and sustainable stormwater management. Site integration will be facilitated by the addition of a lakeside garden and event lawn, and a covered walkway will traverse an existing wetland. Improvements made to a lake will not only increase its aesthetic appeal, but also enhance the aquatic ecosystem, improve water quality, and showcase sustainable practices to garden visitors.

West Creek Reservation
Parma, Ohio
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: Cleveland Metroparks, Floyd Browne Group, Doty & Miller Architects, EnviroScience
Description: West Creek is Cleveland Metroparks's newest reservation and part of a regional park system of 20,000 acres, dedicated to conservation, education, and recreation. Improvements include a Watershed Stewardship Center, roadways, parking, trails, outdoor activity areas, picnic shelters, and other park amenities. The park's trail system provides a significant link on a regional network, the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area (1996 federal designation). On-going, watershed stewardship programming will be provided for citizen scientists, volunteers, professionals, students, and recreational visitors. For more information on this project, click on the following article: Measuring the green in greenspace.

Hope Crossing Sustainable Community Plan
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Project Type: Residential
Project Team: Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity/Hope Crossing Neighborhood, Land+Form Land Use Planning and Design, CLS & Associates, Frankfurt Short Bruza Associates PC
Description: Hope Crossing is a 59-acre neighborhood of 217 homes built to LEED Gold or Silver standards by Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity. The project will build upon the environmentally conscious home designs by creating a sustainable infrastructure for public and private spaces, while educating and involving residents. Planned improvements address water quality, maintenance practices, livability, and ecosystem health.

Ash Creek House
Portland, Oregon
Project Type: Residential
Project Team: DeSantis Landscapes
Description: Natural landscaping practices are at the core of this residential greyfield project in which a 7,500 square foot weed field adjacent to a small stream was converted to a low maintenance garden with native and adaptive plants. The weed field was sheet mulched, which improved soil quality and water holding capacity, and stormwater from the residence's roof is collected in a surge tank for sub-soil distribution to the mulch field through four clay slips. For more information on this project, click on the following articles: Three Oregon sites chosen for sustainable landscaping pilot .

Collier Industrial Park
Clackamas, Oregon
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: Terrill Collier
Description: This project is located on an existing, 4-acre industrial park where sustainable landscape practices have already been implemented, such as removal of invasive plants, directing parking lot stormwater to bio-swales, and retrofitting an irrigation system to drip to reduce water usage. Additional sustainable strategies will include an integrated pest management program, biodiesel fuel use for vehicles, and habitat restoration for a stream bank on site. For more information on this project, click on the following articles: Collier Arbor Care chosen for Sustainable Sites Pilot Project, Program takes green emphasis to the outdoors, Three Oregon sites chosen for sustainable landscaping pilot and A More Sustainable Site.

The Headwaters at Tryon Creek
Portland, Oregon
Project Type: Residential
Project Team: Winkler Development Corp., GreenWorks PC, MGH Engineering, Valaster/Corl Architects, Portland Development Commission, Portland Bureau of Environmental Services
Description: A former brownfield, this mixed residential development was transformed into a site that integrates green buildings, parking, paths, and open space with the daylighting of a tributary creek, wetland and creek restoration, and bike, pedestrian, and neighborhood improvements. Vegetative stormwater strategies such as ecoroofs, greenstreets, planters, and raingardens were incorporated throughout. Completed in 2009, SITES provides a tool for quantifying its sustainability. For more information on this project, click on the following article: Three Oregon sites chosen for sustainable landscaping pilot .

Germantown Academy Outdoor Education and Athletics Area Redevelopment
Fort Washington, Pennsylvania
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: Germantown Academy, Rufo Contracting, Charles E. Shoemaker, Inc., Saul Ewing, LLP, Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC
Description: Athletic facilities for this K-12 independent school situated adjacent to the Wissahickon Creek will be upgraded and reorganized amongst an innovative outdoor education area. While fostering an educational program linked to the natural environment, the plan helps to repair the riparian corridor, abate flooding, and manage stormwater. Athletic fields accommodate below-grade stormwater detention, and parking areas feature rain gardens and infiltration beds.

Hawthorne Park
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation, Lager Raabe Skafte Landscape Architects
Description: Hawthorne Park will be a green capstone in the transformation of a south Philadelphia neighborhood. Functioning as a community gathering place and a passive breathing space, Hawthorne Park is also green infrastructure with nearly 6,000-square feet of permeable paving. Durable, high quality materials and furnishings and hardy plantings will ensure that Hawthorne is long-lived and long-loved. For more information on this project, click on the following article: Measuring the green in greenspace.

Liberty Lands Park
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: Northern Liberties Neighborhood Association, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Water Department
Description: Liberty Lands Park is a grassroots effort that reclaimed vacant urban land which was once the site of two EPA removal projects. The park's program includes a community garden, local artwork, a children's playground, and other amenities. As the only large public greenspace in the neighborhood, Liberty Lands is central to the social life of the surrounding community. Sustainable features include recycled plastic lumber used for decking, reinforced turf for handicap access without hardscape, management of stormwater runoff, rain gardens, and cisterns.

Penns Meadow Detention Pond Retrofit
Macungie, Pennsylvania
Project Type: Governmental complex
Project Team: Lehigh County Conservation District, Lower Macungie Township, Keystone Consulting Engineers, Inc., Hilltop Excavating, Inc., East Penn School District
Description: Penns Meadow Detention Pond Retrofit is a conventional stormwater detention basin modification that will incorporate filtration BMP's for stormwater runoff treatment. The proposed modifications include a constructed wetland, sediment forebays, vegetated channel, sand filter, wet pond, and reforestation using Pennsylvania native plants. The site will also provide the community with a natural focal point, passive recreation, and educational opportunities.

Phipp's Center for Sustainable Landscapes
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Project Type: Open space - Garden/Arboretum
Project Team: Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Andropogon Associates, CH2M Hill, Civil & Environmnetal Consultants, CJL Engineering, The Design Alliance
Description: Established in 1893 as the nation's first teaching conservatory, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens includes an ambitious three-phase expansion with the Center for Sustainable Landscapes (CSL), a 24,000 Education/Research/Administration facility designed in accordance with the Living Building Challenge. By housing environmental education and research initiatives in a building that is itself a working model of sustainable technologies and strategies, the CSL will revolutionize the discovery and dissemination of knowledge and tools for sustainable design, operation, and daily living.

Shoemaker Green
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: University of Pennsylvania, Andropogon Associates, Meliora Design, International Consultants, Inc., Tillett Lighting
Description: The site of the future Shoemaker Green located on the University of Pennsylvania’s urban campus is currently a 3.75-acre greyfield where existing tennis courts will be replaced with a passive open space of lawns, tree-lined walkways, and sitting areas. As part of the Penn Connects campus master plan, this new green space will be both a destination and a pedestrian route from the core of campus to the historic buildings surrounding the space and further eastward to the new Penn Park near the Schuylkill River. Shoemaker Green sustainable site management will improve water quality and minimize runoff, reduce the effect of the urban heat island by greening large paved areas, restore biomass on site, increase local biodiversity, and improve the overall environment for the community. For more information on this project, click on the following article: Shoemaker Green: The Red and Blue Turn Grey into A Green Sustainable Site.

Taylor Residence
Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Project Type: Residential
Project Team: Margot S. Taylor, Apex Engineering, SED Design, Lanchester Soil
Description: This project is located on a 1.5-acre former agricultural and residential property. Converted years ago to a private residence, now undergoing extensive renovations that include alternative energy sources, the site's rural character and aesthetics will be maintained and enhanced with features such as stormwater management, vegetated buffers, and specimen tree preservation. Highlights include native woodland gardens, raised vegetable beds, secluded wildlife habitats, and a straw bale hut with green roof.

Sand River Headwaters Green Infrastructure Project
Aiken, South Carolina
Project Type: Transportation corridors/Streetscape
Project Team: Center for Watershed Excellence (Clemson University), Clemson University
Description: Watershed restoration by reducing severe erosion caused by stormwater runoff is the focus of this greyfield streetscape project. Stormwater will be captured, detained, and infiltrated upstream in fifteen downtown parkways and adjacent parking areas with bioswales and pervious paving. Success of the project will preserve Hitchcock Woods, a 2,000 acre urban forest downstream experiencing extreme erosion, and provide a model for sustainable green infrastructure in the Southeast region. For more information on this project, click on the following article: Clemson green project gets recognition nationally.

Deep Underground Science and Engineering Lab at Homestake
Lead, South Dakota
Project Type: Governmental complex
Project Team: The South Dakota Science and Technology Authority and The SD School of Mines and Technology, HDR CUH2A, DUSEL, Dangermond Keane Architects, Wyss Associates, Inc.
Description: DUSEL will be the centerpiece of the National Science Foundation's Deep Science Initiative, intended to extend the frontiers of particle physics and astrophysics, biology, geosciences, and engineering. The current 186-acre property owned by the SDSTA includes a diverse collection of former mining buildings and infrastructure, some of which will be adaptable to use for the DUSEL. The project will be an international facility, and as the deepest research laboratory in existence, it will attract participants, researchers, and educators from around the world. For more information on this project, click on the following article: Sustainable Landscape Project Takes Root

Design Resource Office - Demonstration Gardens
La Vergne, Tennessee
Project Type: Mixed Use
Project Team: Design Resource - Sutainable Landscape Architecture, Center for Holistic Ecology, GroWild, Inc, TN Land and Water Incorporated, Kevin and Katie Guenther
Description: The Design Resource Demonstration Gardens are proposed on a 1/3 acre lot in typical middle-Tennessee suburbia. This 1,850-square foot home office strives to demonstrate how the retrofit of a suburban lot can obtain a yield of food, water, energy and wildlife habitat and function as a restorative place of beauty for the surrounding community. The project exhibits the dynamics of restorative natural systems in a residential setting.

Habitat for Hope's Barn Raising Project
Millington, Tennessee
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: Habitat for Hope, PLACE Alliance, archimania
Description: This non-profit organization exists to provide holistic care for families enduring the serious illness of a child. They will transform its 48-acre greenfield campus into a model for sustainability. The environmentally friendly development plan includes cabins, a village center, lodge, chapel, equestrian center, and staff residences. The team believes alignment with SITES will benefit the families that Habitat for Hope serves.

Hill Center
Nashville, Tennessee
Project Type: Mixed Use
Project Team: H.G. Hill Realty Co., Hoar Construction, Hawkins Partners, Inc., Barge Cauthen & Associates.
Description: The Hill Center - Green Hills is a mixed-use development completed in 2007. The design incorporated collaboration with the local community and efforts to include local retailers, pedestrian/bike/transit options, and inviting streetscapes. The sustainable elements are also economical, such as full cutoff street/parking lighting, high SRI walkways/rooftops, bioswales, rainwater harvesting cistern, native plants, and high efficiency irrigation. For more information on this project, click on the following article: Renovated Deaderick Street enhances Nashville's city core .

The Woodland Discovery Playground at Shelby Farms Park
Memphis, Tennessee
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: James Corner Field Operations
Description: The Woodland Discovery Playground will shape an environment that allows for change, transformation, and growth that reflects theories about how children learn, develop, and play. Woodland and native plant restoration will incorporate play into the natural environment. A "Green Facts" scavenger hunt will tie sustainable design features together, including minimized irrigation demands, a bioretention and other infiltration areas, and the numerous recycled and reclaimed material installed throughout the site. For more information on this project, click on the following articles: Shelby Farms Unveils New Playground, and Woodland Discovery Playground at Shelby Farms Park.

Blue Hole Regional Park
Wimberley, Texas
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: Design Workshop, Taniguchi Architects, Baker Aiklen, PBSJ, FUELS, MJ Stuctures and Walter P Moore, Holt, LBJWC and Heather Venhaus, ASLA, GreenPlay
Description: This project for an environmentally sustainable regional park in the Texas Hill Country seeks to strike a balance between preserving the site as an ecological resource and providing recreational and educational opportunities for users. Strategies include stormwater conveyance to rain gardens and cisterns, irrigation of recreational fields with treated effluent, minimal impervious surfaces, tree protection, environmental restoration, and reusing materials found on site.

Botanical Research Institute of Texas Sustainable Headquarters
Fort Worth, Texas
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT), the GreenTeam, Balmori Associates, Texas Christian University
Description: Built on a greyfield site, BRIT's new building and campus will feature native species, vegetated walls, and a living roof. Parking lot bioswales and a retention pond will filter and manage stormwater and provide for site irrigation needs. Landscaping and living roof plant choices will reflect efforts to conserve a disappearing vegetational area called the Fort Worth Prairie. For more information on this project, click on the following article: BRIT's Fort Worth headquarters to reflect its conservation mission .

Children’s Garden at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Austin, Texas
Project Type: Open space - Garden/Arboretum
Project Team: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, TBG Partners, W. Gary Smith Landscape Architect, University of Texas at Austin, PMCS
Description: The Children's Garden at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center strives to create an educational experience for children of all ages through adventure and exploration with acres of lush, diverse, and exclusively native gardens. By encouraging intimate, playful, and fun interactions in an assortment of outdoor settings, the goal is to foster in children an understanding, appreciation, and affection for the natural world. For more information on this project, click on the following articles: Eco-Currents: Reading the Bones and Four Austin sites picked for national sustainable landscaping pilot.

Continental Bridge
Dallas, Texas
Project Type: Transportation corridors/Streetscape
Project Team: Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC; CH2M Hill; URS
Description: This 1930s-era vehicular bridge will be reclaimed as a pedestrian and recreational amenity in conjunction with the Trinity River Corridor Project. Design elements include a multi-purpose trail, plazas and flex spaces, vegetated areas, play areas, and access to the proposed Trinity Lakes Park below. The plan preserves the bridge's concrete balustrade in accordance with state historic preservation guidelines.

Harris County WCID 132's Water Conservation Center
Spring, Texas
Project Type: Governmental complex
Project Team: Harris County Water Control and Improvement District
Description: This 5-phase project to convert the Harris County Water Control and Improvement District 132's public campus will include landscape options requiring no treated water once established and an absence of drought conditions, a focus on the water energy nexus, and demonstrations of efficient water conservation and soil-centered practices. As Texas struggles with significant water issues, the district's campus will be dedicated to showing alternative methods for improving stormwater conditions and reducing potable water demands. Ongoing research projects will also be included.

Lone Star College CyFair Campus
Cypress, Texas
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: SWA Group Houston, Lone Star College System
Description: The CyFair College Campus is a model for environmentally responsible development and restoration of a sensitive ecosystem. The design restores pre-European Katy Prairie grasses to the site (the eco-system that had characterized the region for millennia) while expanding important water resources and habitat. The landscape of the campus is meant to be a living laboratory allowing students and the public to enjoy and study the Katy Prairie eco-system first-hand by being a part of it.

Museum of Nature and Science Expansion Project
Dallas, Texas
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: Talley Associates, Morphosis, Good Fulton & Farrell, URS Corporation
Description: The new Perot Museum of Nature and Science in downtown Dallas will inspire all ages and will serve as a complement to the Museum's existing Fair Park facility. The site features a landscape that depicts the varied regions of Texas, from an east Texas forest to the plains of the panhandle. A one-acre of rolling roofscape reflects the west Texas landscape and demonstrates a living system evolving naturally over time. Interactive water features will be replenished by captured stormwater.

National Instruments Corporate Headquarters
Austin, Texas
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: Greater Texas Landscapes, The Groundskeeper; Greater Texas Landscapes, DBA; National Instruments
Description: Most of the landscape in this corporate headquarters campus has been preserved in its natural, unirrigated state except for building footprints, walks, drives, and parking. Developed landscape areas are planted with low water, use native perennials, and the campus contains a number of critical environmental features including limestone sinkholes protected from stormwater runoff. The campus is also a Texas Historical Commission Recorded Site for evidence of flint knapping activity by Native Americans. For more information on this project, click on the following article: Four Austin sites picked for national sustainable landscaping pilot .

Urban Living Laboratory & Renner Gardens
Dallas, Texas
Project Type: Mixed Use
Project Team: Texas A&M AgriLife Urban Solutions Center; Realty Appreciation
Description: Urban Living Laboratory & Renner Gardens is a proposed 233-acre park & mixed-use project integrating education programs, research facilities, and residential life, to demonstrate, test and evaluate sustainable practices. State-of-the art technology will provide active learning opportunities and valuable onsite training to serve as a showcase exhibition for city planners, government agencies, educators, and the public.

UTA Center St. Green + Special Events Center
Arlington, Texas
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: Schrickle, Rollins and Associates, The University of Texas at Arlington
Description: This unique site includes a gathering plaza, pedestrian promenade, shade arbors, and a variety of seating surrounded by a native/adapted plant garden (drought tolerant and beneficial to wildlife). The new design restores an eroding drainage rill to Johnson Creek, which required addressing the large amount of runoff (1/3 of the campus) coming from outside the project boundary. The rill garden features pervious pavement from crushed granite and recycled glass and drought tolerant plants.

Walmart Four Points
Austin, Texas
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: Doucet & Associates, Boice, Raidl, Rhea Architects, Coleman & Associates, Steve Clark & Assoc., Site Integration Studio, Walmart Stores, Inc.
Description: Walmart Four Points development is located on a 39-acre site containing limestone caves and natural Live Oak forest cover. The project features tree and cave preservation, preservation of native infiltration area behind the store, drought tolerant plantings, ET based irrigation system and rainwater harvesting. This project was careful to respect the site and limit disturbance and was successful in blending in with the natural character of the region. Revegetaion was accomplished with native drought tolerant plants. For more information on this project, click on the following articles: Eco-Currents: Reading the Bones and Four Austin sites picked for national sustainable landscaping pilot.

Lions Park
Moab, Utah
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: City of Moab, Psomas, KP2 Architects, National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program
Description: A ten-acre portion of this local park has been redesigned in response to demand for new park uses while preserving its natural setting. Design components include a transit hub to accommodate National Park Service shuttles, spaces for gatherings, recreation and restoration, gateway elements to signify park entry, a nature preserve and boat launch connected to the main park by a pedestrian bridge, and trails and underpasses that link to multi-modal transportation.

Orem Intermodal Center
Orem, Utah
Project Type: Transportation corridors/Streetscape
Project Team: Psomas, Utah Transit Authority
Description: This greenfield project consists of a transit station and new mixed-use urban village associated with transit-orient development located one mile west of downtown Orem. To provide a more sustainable choice for housing and businesses, project design emphasizes pedestrian and bicycling access, a compact development footprint, and safe connections between transit and neighborhood. Another project focus is to reduce up-front costs with natural stormwater systems, by minimizing pavement, and with shared infrastructure.

Swaner EcoCenter
Park City, Utah
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: CRSA, Colvin Engineering, Spectrum Engineers, Psomas, Utah New Vision Construction, Big-D Construction
Description: This LEED Platinum certified facility is located on previously developed land adjacent to a restored wetland complex and nature preserve. All plantings used on the site are native and require little to no water. Rainwater is collected in above ground and below ground cisterns and no potable water is used in the maintenance of the landscape. Boardwalks are constructed from recycled material and pervious paving facilitates stormwater infiltration.

Gordonsville Streetscape
Gordonsville, Virginia
Project Type: Transportation corridors/Streetscape
Project Team: Town of Gordonsville; Land Planning and Design Associates; Hurt and Proffitt Engineers
Description: The historic Town of Gordonsville, Virginia is currently developing a streetscape plan which includes the extension of sidewalk creating a link between the town's two historically significant areas. The sidewalk will link the Exchange Hotel Museum, once a Civil War field hospital, a restored train depot and the town's commercial area. The plan enhances the historic commercial district corridor to include the replacement of deteriorating sidewalks, curb and gutter, rehabilitation of drainage structures, crosswalk safety and aesthetic improvements.

Greening of Virginia's Capitol
Richmond, Virginia
Project Type: Transportation corridors/Streetscape
Project Team: Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Virginia Department of General Services, The City of Richmond, Civil & Environmental Services LLC, BioForm Landscape Architecture & Environmental Design
Description: This greyfield project will demonstrate a sustainable, ecologically sound approach to reducing polluted stormwater runoff by incorporating low-impact storm water management design elements, such as porous brick pavers, rain gardens with native plantings, and curbside bioretention for capturing and treating runoff, on and adjacent to the historic Virginia State Capitol Square. The project's location provides a unique opportunity to educate legislators and the general public about low-impact stormwater design and to provide a model for other projects throughout Virginia.

Virginia Tech's Sustainable Landscape Practices Demonstration Garden
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Project Type: Institutional/Educational
Project Team: Virginia Tech University - Hampton Roads Agricultural Research & Extension Center, City of Virginia Beach, Virginia Department of Forestry, Virginia Cooperative Extension - Master Gardener Water Stewards - Virginia Beach
Description: This garden is 8,300-square feet, contains 130 species and follows the sustainable concepts of biological diversity, resource conservation, low impact/input, long-term planning, and water conservation. Thirty demonstrated practices include: rain chains, sensors, barrels, vegetated swales, permeabale paving, passive solar heating/cooling, plant diversity and trophic layers, drip and watering bag irrigation, recycled products, proper fertilizer use, solar lighting, and grasscycling.

9th Ave NW Park
Seattle, Washington
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: Site Workshop; WR Consulting; Advanced Electrical Services
Description: This project will transform a greyfield site in a residential neighborhood once home to a church, into a small local park which will include a community garden, a gathering plaza for community events, a skate-spot woven into seatwalls, and spaces for quiet introspection and children's play. Community support for sustainability, articulated in several neighborhood workshops, will be implemented through material reuse and reclamation of road paving for rain gardens along the site's street edge.

Bradner Gardens Park Development
Seattle, Washington
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: City of Seattle Parks and Recreation and Department of Neighborhoods; Barker Landscape Architects; Friends of Bradner Gardens Park; King County Master Gardeners; Seattle Tilth
Description: This park was designed and developed in collaboration with community volunteers. The result is a multi-functional, sustainable, accessible neighborhood park that includes community food gardens, organic gardening and ornamental, water-wise demonstration gardens, compost demonstration, a children's A to Z garden, a seasonal wildlife pond and vegetated swale for on-site drainage, tractor play area, basketball court, native plant areas and a community gathering pavilion.

East Bay Public Plaza
Olympia, Washington
Project Type: Transportation corridors/Streetscape
Project Team: Robert W Droll, Landscape Architect, PS, LOTT Alliance
Description: East Bay Public Plaza is a vibrant public urban space which will showcase the benefits of reclaimed water and the efforts of the LOTT Alliance, an Olympia-based wastewater treatment company. Educational elements such as discovery markers, interactive stream features, a series of interpretative panels, and a ground plane timeline that playfully charts the past, present, and future of reclaimed water which will evoke a sense of wonder and discovery for all visitors.

KCTS9
Seattle, Washington
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: KCTS 9; Mithün; Chris Webb Associates, Inc; WSP Flack + Kurtz; Swenson Say Fagét; Roen Associates
Description: This greyfield project envisions sustainable site design in conjunction with the redevelopment of the PBS station's existing 60,000-square foot building to Platinum level LEED–EB performance. Focus will be given to the building's 32,000-square foot roof, half of which will be transformed into a food garden to exhibit urban horticulture. On-site energy generation and water collection will occur on the roof's other half, all of which will be visible from the nearby Space Needle.

Olympic College Student Parking Lot
Bremerton, Washington
Project Type: Transportation corridors/Streetscape
Project Team: Schacht Aslani Architects, SVR Design Company, O’Brien & Company, Tres West
Description: The Olympic College Student Parking Lot renovation will expand and improve parking and streetscape conditions along the eastern perimeter of campus to clarify vehicular, pedestrian, transit and bicycle circulation routes. Landscaped areas around the periphery and multifunctional landscape interior islands in the parking areas will implement stormwater management and native plants, while providing safe and accessible pedestrian routes to the campus. For more information on this project, click on the following article: Yes, parking lots can be green

Pendleton Avenue Improvements
Fort Lewis, Washington
Project Type: Transportation corridors/Streetscape
Project Team: US Army Corp of Engineers, BergerABAM Engineers, Department of Public Works-Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Cascade Design Collaborative
Description: The Pendleton Multiway Boulevard project will improve 7,100 lineal feet of the existing Pendleton Avenue. The existing two-lane street in the historic district will be converted into a multiway boulevard. The plan establishes a comprehensive set of design guidelines for that when implemented will create a very sustainable "green street". The Pendleton Avenue design vocabulary will reflect both the uniqueness of each area through which it passes, as well as an overall comprehensive set of repeating design elements, functions, and forms such as rain gardens, street lighting and wayfinding.

Peninsula College Campus New Entry and Parking Lot Renovation
Port Angeles, Washington
Project Type: Transportation corridors/Streetscape
Project Team: Schacht Aslani Architects, Nakano Associates, KPFF Consulting Engineers, Candela, O’Brien & Company
Description: A parking lot renovation at Peninsula College will address stormwater management and pedestrian flows in order to improve its multi-functionality. Sustainable design and construction strategies are being used from LEED, The Living Building Challenge, and SITES to lessen the impact of the parking lot. For more information on this project, click on the following article: Yes, parking lots can be green

South Kitsap Regional Park
Port Orchard, Washington
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: Kitsap County Parks & Recreation, BCRA
Description: South Kitsap Regional Park is a 200-acre park characterized by healthy forest canopy over approximately 2/3 of the land, two well heads, significant wetlands, steep slopes, as well as flat and compacted areas that have already been developed for recreational uses. A new master plan includes a new playground, community garden area, skate park and BMX area, soccer fields, baseball and trails/pedestrian paths. The master plan focuses redevelopment within the already-disturbed 80 acres to reserve the majority of the park for low-impact trail uses in the forest. For more information on this project, click on the following article: SK Regional Park plan hailed for sustainability

Theater Commons and Donnelly Gardens
Seattle, Washington
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: Seattle Center, City of Seattle, Gustafson Guthrie Nichol, Weinstein AU, Magnusson Klemencic Associates,Pivotal/AEI
Description: Theater Commons, a 1.6-acre site within a major urban park and cultural center, revitalizes an existing campus vehicle entry into a pedestrian-friendly, multi-functional, tree-lined street overlooking new gardens, terraces and seating areas between two professional theaters. The site integrates sustainable design and highlights ecological features, such as Cascadia native plants and innovative stormwater infiltration, as a prototype for future campus projects. For more information on this project, click on the following article: 11 state projects will test new program for sustainable landscapes .

MGIC Plaza
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Project Type: Commercial
Project Team: Celadon; MGIC; Conservation Land Stewardship
Description: The MGIC Plaza is across the street from Milwaukee's City Hall and Performing Arts Center. A redesign of the plaza will be an amenity for the public with rain gardens, visual screening, reduction of the urban heat island effect, native plants, tree grids with wild native flora, and innovative techniques of landscape design as art. Small movements of stormwater design will contribute to a zero-runoff site with the use of new reclaimed materials.

Sustainable Landscape Retrofit, Taggart Visitor Center
Lovell, Wyoming
Project Type: Open space - Park
Project Team: National Park Service, Bighorn Canyon NRA, City of Lovell, Friends of Bighorn Lake, Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Center
Description: The Taggart Visitor Center in Lovell, Wyoming is the most popular visitor facility in Bighorn Canyon NRA, a unit of the National Park Service. The 9-acre visitor center site is located in the city limits and is the largest green space within the downtown area. The current landscape is very consumptive (mowing, irrigation, fertilizing, labor). This retrofit sustainable landscape will complement the intended environmental leadership message.