By: WPL Landscape Architecture Group
According to a report from the National Research Council, stormwater runoff from built environments is one of the biggest challenges in modern water pollution control. Therefore, when taking on projects, landscape architects would benefit from the implementation of effective stormwater sustainability techniques whenever and wherever possible. One such example of a project that promotes sustainable stormwater practices is the Brock Environmental Center, located at Pleasure House Point in Virginia Beach, Va.
A Model of Sustainability
The
Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s (CBF) primary goal in creating the Brock
Environmental Center was to protect, preserve and celebrate the natural
setting, while simultaneously showcasing technology and practices that
contribute to net-zero energy, water and waste. CBF was looking for a
landscape architect to master plan a landscape to surround a net-zero
building that would serve as the headquarters for their outdoor
environmental education programs in Hampton Roads and also provide a
public meeting space. Both the structure and landscape were to be models
of sustainability, restoration and education about the Bay and local
rivers.
According to CBF’s website, polluted stormwater runoff is a particularly harmful problem for the Bay, and the main source of dirty water in many urban and suburban areas. As the intensity of storms and rainfall in the Bay region has increased in recent years, flooding and stormwater runoff has become even worse. Therefore, stormwater sustainability was an even more important factor in the design. The Brock Environmental Center is a flagship location for CBF, whose charge is specifically to engage, inform and inspire generations about the environment and how to protect and restore the water quality of the bay.
Prior to the current stormwater standards initiated by the 2014 Virginia Stormwater Regulations, CBF commissioned WPL Landscape Architecture to approach the site design using innovative rainwater management solutions. Through this project, both the Foundation and WPL exemplify ethics of minimal disturbance to land and water. The project is heralded as one of the first in the nation to deploy such a unique energy and water independence.
WPL served as the landscape architect, civil engineer and land surveyor for this project. Their services included master planning, site design, land planning, site and environmental analysis, civil engineering, land surveying, arboricultural planning and design and stakeholder design stipulations.
A Plan for Stormwater
WPL’s site analysis included an investigation of the ecological function of the site, emphasizing the site’s potential to filter stormwater from beyond its own boundary. Through their design, WPL ensured that all rainwater gently disperses throughout the property and filters its way through vegetation and soils, never flowing through pipes untreated into the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Rainwater from all roof areas is collected, filtered, disinfected and treated to provide total water supply within the building. This includes drinking water, which was a major goal for the design team.
Excess
rainwater from the roof and graywater from the building move into
separate rainwater and graywater gardens. These gardens treat their
respective incoming flows and infiltrate water into native sandy soils.
The
site design minimizes land disturbance. Existing native trees, shrubs
and beach grasses absorb rainfall and allow periodic flooding from
coastal storm events to spread and recede naturally. Essentially, the
entire site was returned to its natural condition. Hardscape pedestrian
areas are composed of permeable pavers and gravel types, as adjacent
rain gardens and bio-swales treating runoff. Native plantings allow
water filtration and treatment within the rain gardens while reducing
runoff volume and meeting pollution-reduction goals.
A Resilient Landscape
Given
the great importance of sea level rise resiliency to CBF, the team
worked to find the best building location on site and to set a floor
elevation appropriate for accessibility and future storm and tidal
surges.
Winston Place, the main entry road to the Center, is the first permeable-paver public right-of-way in the city. It has no basins, inlets or pipes. Rainwater infiltrates through the pavers and into sandy soils. When a storm event provides excessive run-off, water flows into bio-swales flanking the street, ultimately improving water quality. The rain gardens are planted with Juncus grass, a native wetland rush, as well as Live oak, American Beach grass and Common rush. The rest of the site was left to naturalize. Since installation, other native wetland plants have taken root, creating a thriving rain garden system.
Conclusion
The
Center was certified through the “Living Building Challenge” by the
International Living Futures Institute, which is a global, nonprofit
green building certification program and sustainable design framework
that works to lessen climate change through building programs. The
project also achieved LEED Platinum status. CBF’s principles were
embraced in the selection, programming, design and construction of the
site.
The project set the standard for sustainability even after new stormwater legislation was set in Virginia. Today, it continues to serve as an example of responsible sustainable design on the east coast.
Team List
Landscape Architect – WPL
Civil Engineer – WPL
Architect – SmithGroup JJR
Mechanical Engineer – SmithGroup JJR
Electrical Engineer – SmithGroup JJR
Geotech – Engineering and Testing Services, Inc. (ETS)
Photography: Dave Chance Photography
As seen in LASN magazine, January 2019.