SELECTED STORMWATER PROJECTS FEBRUARY 2015
AN–DRO–PO–GON \ N: a common field grass, is one of nature’s remarkable adaptations to stress and change in the landscape. Wherever the landscape has been disturbed, andropogon is one of the first field grasses to colonize the ground, providing a self-sustaining cover for the gradual return of our native forests. The economy and elegance with which these grassy meadows heal the wounded landscape aptly describes Andropogon’s goal in ecological planning and design, “to weave together the landscape of man and nature for the benefit of both.”
FIRM PROFILE
Founded more than thirty years ago, Andropogon is committed to the principle of “designing with nature,” creating beautiful and evocative landscapes inspired by the careful observation of natural processes and informed by the best environmental science. The elegance and economy of natural form and process continues to be the benchmark by which we measure the success of our work—from the smallest construction detail to the multi-layered patterns of regional sites. As a certified minority business enterprise (MBE), Andropogon is committed to diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace. Our multi-cultural staff is dedicated to the successful maturing of each project, from initial concept designs to construction review and long-term landscape management. Our body of national and international work includes early examples of innovative green strategies that have withstood the test of time as well as a broad range of landscape, site planning, environmental projects, ecological restoration and innovative stormwater management techniques. FIRM PRINCIPALS José Almiñana Yaki Miodovnik Thomas Amoroso ASSOCIATE PRINCIPALS Martin Troutman PRINCIPALS EMERITI Carol Franklin Colin Franklin
Our clients often tell us that we combine integrated design with a depth of ecological understanding in synergistic ways. With every project we embody our mission... “to weave together the landscapes of man and nature for the benefit of both.”
DESIGN PRINCIPLES
P LACE F I R S T Our goal is to understand and express the essential character of a place. We tell the story of a site by learning what it was, understanding what it is, and realizing what it can become.
CRE ATI N G H I G H - P E R F ORM ANCE / MULTI -F U N C T I O N I N G L A NDSCAPES Creative problem-solving shapes our landscapes making them interactive. We are committed to synergistic designs where roles are inter-dependent and mutually supporting.
HARM O N I Z E P E O P L E A ND PL ACE Our designs find opportunities for a dynamic and relevant future in the fundamentals of the place and the aspirations of the community.
HE AL E C O S Y S T E M S Our core approach is to build dynamic, holistic systems and establish a healthy web of relationships.
E CO NO M Y O F I N T E R V E NT ION We protect the integrity of ecological and social systems through non-invasive and carefully targeted solutions; maximum impact with minimal invasion.
BE AUTY I S M O R E T H A N SKIN DEEP Our landscapes are not only artistic and aesthetically beautiful; they create evocative experiences with lasting impressions while serving as essential organizing elements of a site.
RECENT WORK
a collection of projects recently completed or under construction
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
SHOEMAKER GREEN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
Shoemaker Green is a 2.75 acre site located immediately east of 33rd Street between Walnut and Spruce Streets, and is a major component of the east-west connection between the central campus and Penn Park, serving as a new continuation of the Locust Walk / Smith Walk corridor. The site is surrounded by two of the University’s most iconic athletic facilities – the Palestra and Franklin Field, and serves as the “front doors” to these historic structures. Shoemaker Green’s program is mainly passive recreation, but the site has the ability to adapt for multiple events and activities with a wide range of scales, from secluded areas to eat lunch all the way up to staging areas for the Penn Relays and graduation. By way of carrying over the essence of College Green, while still retaining a character all its own, the site is the heart of Penn’s eastward expansion. Shoemaker Green is a model for sustainable campus design. Through the innovative use of a variety of strategies and technologies, the design of Shoemaker Green has been optimized to capture and control stormwater from the site and surrounding rooftops, provide viable native plant and animal habitats, minimize transportation of materials to and from the site, and serve as a starting point for the development of a sustainable maintenance strategy for the University at large. Certified Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES™) earning a two star rating.
Project,
THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
LUBERT PLAZA
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
Lubert Plaza is the urban plaza of the Dorrance H. Hamilton Building, the campus center of Thomas Jefferson University. Designed in coordination with architects Burt Hill/Stantec, the 60,000 sf plaza was part of a $60 million expansion-and-renovation project that also included a new facility and 215-space underground parking garage. Andropogon’s expansive green plaza transformed the 14-acre urban campus by providing a new “heart of campus” where formerly two parking garages consumed half a city block and overshadowed the functions and identity of the University. 2006 Stormwater BMP Award from the City of Philadelphia Water Department
DREXEL UNIVERSITY PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
PERELMAN PLAZA
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
Andropogon is designing a new “center of gravity� for Drexel University along the former 32nd Street between Chestnut and Market Streets. The new campus hub, to be known as The Raymond G. Perelman Plaza, will become a destination for the campus and neighboring communities, providing an outdoor social and event space that is surrounded by the LeBow College of Business and a new residential and retail center. Following the completion of the award-winning Master Plan, Andropogon was selected to create a public space that inspires connection, collaboration, and community. The plaza will provide a variety of spaces where thousands of people can meet, eat, study, and attend large outdoor gatherings. The design features an improved flow for pedestrian traffic, seamless integration with existing building entrances, well-planned seating and increased shade and natural beauty. The landscape will also manage stormwater runoff and collect and reuse rainwater.
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION WASHINGTON, D.C.
U.S. COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, D.C
As a member of the master planning & site development team led by architects Perkins+Will, Andropogon served as the landscape architect and ecological planner for the new United States Coast Guard Headquarters Facility. The Headquarters Facility sits within the historic 182-acre St. Elizabeths campus, a National Historic Landmark located 2.5 miles from the U.S. Capital. This 1.2 million square foot building, with the second largest green roof in the United States, was designed to integrate within its 37-acre site. The landscape, informed by detailed site analysis, sustainable design principals, and stormwater Best Management Practices, creates a functional landscape with exceptional performance and beauty. The sustainable directives for the project included achievement of Silver LEED™ certification.
B l u e
r i d g e + N o r t h e r n P i e d m o n t Trap Rock + Conglomerate Uplands
N o r t h e r n P i e d m o n t Piedmont Uplands + Foothills
N o r t h e r n P i e d m o n t Lowlands + Outer Piedmont
S o u t h e a s t e r n P l a i n s Chesapeake Rolling Coastal Plain
m i d d l A t l a n t i c o a s t a p l a i
e c l n
ChesapeakeAlbemarle Silty Lowlands + Tidal Marshes
CHENNAI RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX CHENNAI, INDIA
CHENNAI RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX CHENNAI, INDIA
Designed in collaboration with Krueck and Sexton Architects, this new residential community on a 113-acre site for approximately 15,000 residents, is located in the Chembarakkam, along the ChennaiBangalore route. Development of the project was designed to be implemented in two phases. The first phase, to be developed on a parcel of approximately 40 acres, was planned to consist mainly of Independent villas and townhouses. The second phase, designed to be on a 70-acre parcel, contained a more dense development of apartments and mid rise apartments. The master plan design allowed for phased and independent development of the residential community, while retaining the integrity of the larger 100 plus acre site.
CHATTANOOGA RRS CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE
CHATTANOOGA GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE RETROFIT CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE
The City of Chattanooga needed to come into compliance with a State-mandated NPDES MS4 Permit, regulating stormwater runoff and associated pollutant loads to begin to restore health to their impacted streams. Andropogon’s expertise in integrating stormwater management systems into the larger landscape was central to Chattanoooga’s enlarged mandate; to leverage the permit requirements and use “green infrastructure to revitalize the city and provide a holistic approach to managing water quality.”
While separately administered and funded, the Brainerd (Midtown) Community Green Infrastructure Retrofit Project is intended to work in conjunction with the creation of city-wide Standards for Runoff Reduction, to meet EPA and the MS4 permit requirements. The Green Infrastructure Retrofit Project provides a model for retrofitting entire city districts with innovative green infrastructure systems, while simultaneously addressing the social, cultural and economic issues and characteristics of each individual district.
The team, led by Arcadis, includes Meliora Environmental Design, Red Oak and Andropogon is currently developing a new stormwater management ordinance for new development and redevelopment projects including a comprehensive stormwater management manual that will encourage developers and the design professionals to meet the new requirements with green infrastructure and site specific solutions. To support the new ordinance and the manual, the team is also evaluating and harmonizing the City’s policies, codes, and ordinances, as well as the present permitting processes in order to direct future development with clear prohibitions and new incentives.
The development of Runoff Reduction Standards for Water Quality Improvement provides a revised Storm Water Ordinance, Guidance Manual and harmonizes related City codes. In turn, the execution of the Green Infrastructure Retrofit for the Brainerd (Midtown) Community fulfills the MS4 permit and EPA requirements for a pilot project to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Runoff Reduction Standards.
The ordinance, manual and code harmonization are based on the evolving ‘latest-best’ urban planning ideas (e.g. smartgrowth and Low Impact Development, and informed by an intensive mapping effort lead by Andropogon, highlighting the unique opportunities and constraints of the City’s natural and built environment, social conditions and economic realities. These efforts are supported by public outreach, engagement and participation.
The strategies set forth in the Green Infrastructure Retrofit Project goes beyond meeting current permit requirements. It anticipates the more stringent requirements of future runoff standards and reframes stormwater as a resource, not a problem, employing it to create valueadded new development opportunities. The implementation of individual projects within the larger plan does not result in a variety of unconnected best management plans (BMPs), but rather in a stormwater management system that is fully connected—both within an individual site and into other projects in the district.
watershed extent
tributaries
drainage areas
known locations of rare species
vegetated landcover
infrastructure drainage areas
brownfield sites
headwaters identified
zoning
known open spaces
impermeable landcover
physiography
sample of components for spatial analysis
SIDWELL FRIENDS SCHOOL WASHINGTON, D.C.
SIDWELL FRIENDS SCHOOL WASHINGTON, D.C.
Andropogon collaborated with architects Kieran Timberlake Associates to develop a Master Plan for articulating the campus landscape within the larger urban grid, while creating intimate environments for individualized learning. Andropogon’s Landscape Master Plan & Site Design included new play areas, native plantings to provide screening for neighbors, a green roof on the new building addition, and a central courtyard with a constructed wetland designed to utilize storm and wastewater for both ecological and educational purposes. Andropogon’s plan integrated water management solutions into the landscape, inextricably linking the building to its site. The wetland becomes a “working landscape”; using biological processes to clean water while providing students with a vivid example of how such systems work in nature.
SALVATION ARMY PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
RAY AND JOAN KROC CORPS COMMUNITY CENTER PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
Andropogon Associates teamed with MGA Partners to provide site development and landscape design services for the Salvation Army’s new 87,000 s.f. Community Center. The new facility is a highly diversified headquarters offering recreational facilities, job training, and educational and spiritual programs for Philadelphians from the Germantown and Nicetown neighborhoods. The project location, a 13-acre contaminated brownfield, was an industrial site and parking lot. After performing an initial site analysis and contamination review, Andropogon developed a comprehensive, sustainable landscape approach to accommodate the diverse demands of the site and facility. The project design included an urban farm, synthetic turf field, playground, and a network of rain gardens and cisterns. The site is organized around a central open space and adjoining formal garden. Intended for ceremonies and outdoor events, the formal garden was designed in sections to accommodate smaller and larger gatherings. Andropogon’s plan for the Salvation Army presents one of the most comprehensive sustainable landscape approaches in the City of Philadelphia. Through a combination of water management techniques and site waste recycling strategies, almost 100% of the first two inches of stormwater runoff from the site and building is captured, reused, and infiltrated on site using a combination of cisterns, rain gardens, porous pavements, and engineered soil mixes. 2013 ASLA PA-DE Honor Award in General Design & 2012 AIA Pennsylvania Design Excellence Award
www.andropogon.com
10 shurs lane
706 mountford avenue
philadelphia, pa 19127
raleigh, nc 27603
215 487 0700
919 800 0523