an undulating pond edge creates a larger and more varied habitat for fauna. A thickly planted vine scrim hides the building's loading dock and service area, and collects sheet flow from their impervious surfaces.
Neither simply buffer landscape nor officially a full-scale park, the landscape straddles the public and pivot realms, setting a new standard for interaction among municipal infrastructure, community space, and ecology.
An aerial view reveals both the facility's candid relationship to the adjacent residential neighborhood and its integration with the greater regional water system.
The facility grounds serve as the setting for the Eli Whitney Barn, which hosts community events and children's programs. Controlled views within and beyond the site are revealed sequentially as one moves through the landscape.
Surface runoff drains to a unlined pond where it percolates through the soil, removing particulate matter. the pond also collects overflow from the facility's finished drinking water tank.
The landscape architects collaborated with the architect to place the majority of the building below grade, allowing the landscape to become a central expressive medium on the site.
With an area of 30,000 square feet, the facility's green roof is the largest in Connecticut. A selection of low-maintenance sedums on a lightweight soil base adds another layer of seasonal interest to the site.
Sustainability and design are integrated with the landscape's planting and maintenance regimes.
Be reusing all of the excavated soil on the site, the landscape architect allowed the client to honor a pledge to minimize removal of soil by trucks - and saved hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The undulating topography works year-round to anchor the facility - both visually and socially - in its context, rather than merely attempting to hide its presence.
Construction photograph showing bioengineering techniques used for slope stabilization.
