Strathmore Mill Reuse, Turners Falls, MA

Strathmore Campus Plan:

The Adaptive Reuse of an Historic Mill

Swift River Group • Falls, MA Annie Scott | Priscilla Miner

| Kate Dana |

Conway School of Landscape Design

|

Spring 2007

Introducti o n Program G o a l s Site Conte x t History

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I s l a n d N o r th End C o m m u n i t y Charrette E x i s t i n g C onditions S i t e A n a l y sis

A l t e r n a t i v e Designs

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Proposed Plan Courtyard Det a i l s Details

Plan Summary

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Project

S t r a t h more Campus Plan Swift River Group, a media production and education company, is considering acquiring and transforming the former Strathmore Paper Mill complex, comprising ten buildings with a square footage of over 220,000 square feet, into a campus that will support a film school and production studios. This master plan examines connections to the community, including the downtown area, Franklin County Bikeway, and Great Falls Discovery Center. Potential uses of outdoor spaces, including rooftops and pockets of land adjacent to the buildings, and pedestrian and bicycle access are also explored.

Client

S w i f t R iver Group (SRG)

New England Film Academy will train students in all phases of feature film production through intensive experiential programs lasting from one weekend to one year. Students will produce five socially conscious independent films each year, all within a fortyfive mile radius of the school’s campus in Turners Falls.

Swift River Entertainment will produce and distribute media,

Location

television, and documentary content for an international market.

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Tu r n e r s Falls, Massachusetts The Strathmore Mill complex is located in the National Register Historic District of Turners Falls village in Montague, Massachusetts. The site is approximately two acres, bounded by the Connecticut River on the northwest and a hydroelectric power canal on the southeast. It is within walking distance of Turners Falls town center.

Swift River Studios will be the hub of equipment and resource management for all of Swift River Group’s companies; its production facilities and equipment will be used by the New England Film Academy and Swift River Entertainment, and will also be rented to photographers, filmmakers, and musicians.

Swift River Cinema (aka Swift River Film Investment Fund) will provide funding for the production of five films annually.

Millenium Park Bicycle Station, Chicago, IL Free parking for 300 bicycles/solar-panelled roof

DIA Beacon Art Center, Beacon, NY Grid pavers define paths

Intensive green roof, Fukuoka City Hall Fukuoka, Japan

Rooftop Films, Brooklyn, NY; Weekly rooftop film screenings in summer

Goals 1 .

Integrate green technology and educational oppo r t u n i t i e s i n t o the design while preserving the historical integri t y o f t h e s i t e.

Manage stormwater on site

Utilize nonstructural techniques such as rain gardens and vegetated swales

Incorporate alternative surfaces such as porous pavement, vegetated roofs, living walls, and grid pavers

Increase and maximize the use of green space

Store and reuse rainwater

Site a cistern or holding area for stormwater collection

Eliminate the use of potable water for landscape maintenance

Harness renewable energy on site

Solar power Microhydro power

2 . Create a car free campus.

Clear and accessible connections for pedestrians and bicycles

Bicycle parking and storage

Minimal on-site parking (accessible and short term spaces)

Parking for 20 to 30 cars (approximately 12,000 square feet)

3 . Tie campus into a potential island greenway.

Identify key access areas in town and create connections to these areas

Create inviting public spaces that draw people in from the Discovery Center and downtown

Establish connections to key points in town and on island for cyclists and pedestrians

Sedum is commonly used in extensive green roofs

The Institute for Sustainable Systems and Technologies Adelaide, Australia; sculptural solar lighting

Canal side trail, Lowell, MA

Quai Branly Museum, Paris, France Living wall

MONTAGUE BOSTON

I-91

2 hours

I-90

NEW YORK CITY

3.5 hours

Location

Transportation

The Strathmore Paper Mill is located in the National Register Historic District of Turners Falls,

Bus service is available from Turners Falls to Greenfield and Amherst, where connections can be made to Greyhound and Peter Pan/Trailways bus services. Amherst is also served by Amtrak train lines. Turners Falls is easily accessible to Route 2 (2 minutes) and Interstate 91 (8 minutes), and is served by the Turners Falls Municipal Airport.

the largest of five villages comprising the town of Montague in the upper Pioneer Valley. Home to just over 4,400 people, Turners Falls is the commercial and governmental center of the Town of Montague, and boasts a lively arts community.

Points of Interest A two-hour drive from Boston and three-and-a- half from New York City, the site is close to cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities.

The Hallmark Institute of Photography is located in Montague and its Museum of Contemporary Photography is in downtown Turners Falls. Greenfield Community College and the Five College consortium (Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke and Smith Colleges and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst) are also nearby.

The Pioneer Valley is a recreational destination with a wide range of activities including hiking, biking, fishing, boating swimming and skiing,

Local points of interest ILE 10 M

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BERNARDSTON

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GREENFIELD

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ERVING Bridge of Flowers Glacial Potholes

Turners Falls

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SHELBURNE FALLS

Discovery Center Anadramous Fish Ladder

Greenfield Community College

Turners Hallmark Falls Institute of Airport Photography

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DEERFIELD CONWAY

Suggested Bike Route*

Conway School of Landscape Design

Open Space, Park

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Long Hiking Trails Colleges & Universities LEVERETT

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University of Massachusetts Amherst

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Amherst College

Sources: MassGIS, NESEA, Franklin County Chamber of Commerce

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Birds-eye perspective (1877). Source: Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division

History The Connecticut River bends sharply south through a steep sided valley, over bedrock outcroppings and around the village of Turners Falls.

This unique location on the river was an important Native American center for diplomacy and trade for over ten thousand years prior to European settlement.

The Strathmore Mill was once part of a larger complex of mill buildings that harnessed the power of the Connecticut River at Turners Falls.

Originally constructed in the late 1700s for transportation, the Turners Falls canal fell into disuse as railroads started to meet many transportation needs in the 1840s. The canal and dam were rebuilt in the 1860s as part of industrialist Alvah Crocker’s vision for a completely planned industrial community. At the core of the plan was inexpensive hydro-power to attract mill industries to the village. The plan supported business development with a walkable street grid that included a 90-foot-wide commercial main avenue located between in-town employee housing and the mill sites on an island between the canal and the river.

Like many communities throughout Massachusetts and other parts of the country, the industrial manufacturing that characterized Turners Falls now leaves a legacy of significant physical structures that can be creatively reused in ways that respond to current economic and social trends.

The mill was built by Keith Paper in 1874. Strathmore Paper Company acquired the mill in 1953 and was the longest owner of the mill, closing it in 1994. Since the closing, the mill has had several owners and been utilized for a variety of uses, including artist space, and most recently, recycled paper storage.

Swift River Group Strathmore Campus Plan

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STRATHMORE PAPER MILL

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PESKEOMSKUT PARK

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Village-Island Orientation

The Strathmore Mill’s unique location provides many opportunities for connections with the village of Turners Falls: 1 TURNERS FALLS /GILL BRIDGE

GREAT FALLS DISCOVERY CENTER A major draw to Turners Falls is the Great Falls Discovery Center, an interpretive museum of the Connecticut River watershed. Housed in a complex of old mill buildings, the Discovery Center is surrounded by a four-acre park with butterfly gardens, native plantings, and views of the canal and river.

2 PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE

NORTHEAST TIP OF ISLAND A pedestrian bridge leads over the canal to a privately owned green space that affords spectacular views of the fish ladder, and the only views in town of the Great Falls.

3 CANALSIDE BIKE PATH A recently completed 3-mile off-road bicycle path extends along the riverfront and power canal from Barton’s Cove to Montague City, and connects with other regional bicycle trails. The path is easily accessible from the Strathmore Paper Mill.

4 INDECK FACILITY This coal-powered cogeneration plant is currently being dismantled, opening up and altering the landscape of the northeastern tip of the island.

5 PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE / STRATHMORE MILL A pedestrian bridge (currently closed) crosses the canal from Canal Street to the fourth floor of the Strathmore Mill.

6 FIFTH STREET BRIDGE The heavily trafficked bridge at Fifth Street leads over the canal towards Greenfield. It is possible in the wintertime to see the Strathmore Mill from the center of the bridge.

7 POWER STREET BRIDGE

GRISWOLD COTTON MILL Two bridges that cross the canal at Sixth Street (currently closed) lead to Griswold Cotton Mill, originally constructed in 1874. The island widens at this point, and the Griswold Mill site is surrounded by green space to the river side, and a canal reservoir to the south.

8 THE PATCH NEIGHBORHOOD Historically, many mill workers lived in the Patch, a residential neighborhood which once had numerous corner markets, a candy store, and a Polish food co-op and bakery. Power Street leads from the Griswold Mill site south towards this neighborhood.

9 AVENUE A

TURNERS FALLS HISTORIC DISTRICT Designed and built by industrialist Colonel Alvah Crocker in the 1860s, the historic downtown features distinctive 19th-century brick architecture. Avenue A is a 90-footwide street with the town’s library, post office, grocery store and hardware store, all within easy walking distance of the Strathmore Mill.

Connect with the water places for kids to

energy resources river-based events something fun

Twenty-four people who live or work in Turners Falls participated in a short, intensive design workshop held at Montague Town Hall on Thursday, May 24, 2007 to explore ideas about the future of the north end of the island. Following a walking tour of the north end of the island and downtown Turners Falls, participants discussed the future of the area and put their ideas on paper.

An Island Greenway An island greenway could be a way for the village to incorporate many of the ideas expressed at the meeting. This includes adding new bike paths that extend the length of the island, connecting greenspaces, residents, and new retail and business locations; re-opening and retrofitting bridges that link pedestrians and bicycles from the downtown area and existing bike path to the island; defining green spaces interspersed throughout the greenway that provide opportunities for recreation, reflection, and points of interaction with the river; and transforming the northernmost end of the island into a public park with an educational connection to the Discovery Center and Fishway.

and family -related trails artist space concerts walkways more public events

go sustainable

FOCUS AREA PROPOSED HOTEL IN FORMER TANK

TURNERS FALLS

PROPOSED TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES

LEGEND VIEWS AND POINTS OF INTEREST

CONNECTION

PARKING

TO PATCH NEIGHBORHOOD Source: Mass GIS, River Culture walking tour map, site visits

Not for construction. This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.

Swift River Group Strathmore Campus Plan

promote culture and the arts studio space reveal past

GREENFIELD

ROOF

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PEDESTRIAN ENTRY FROM BRIDGE

PEDESTRIAN ENTRY FROM ROAD 3 PrivateRoad 2

1 Connecticut River

COURTYARD

Building 4 Entrances Pedestrians enter the site from the road via a balcony at the third level of Building 4. A pedestrian bridge, currently closed, enters the building at the fourth level of the same building.

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One building in the complex, along with its raceway and water rights, is owned by the Turners Falls Hydro Company. A truck turnaround on the northeastern end of the property extends over the property boundary. Swift River Group plans to remove this truck bay, along with building 8, which was more recently constructed.

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The unique position of the building provides a beautiful setting, but it also creates space limitations. Parking on site is very limited, creating a need for alternative transportation or off-site parking. A feasibility study, prepared for the town of Montague in 2005, indicated that there is available parking for the Strathmore building at the Great Falls Discovery Center and other areas in town.

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the Power Canal to the south in Turners Falls,

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Connecticut River to the north and northwest and

The Strathmore Mill sits between the Connecticut River and the Power Canal.

Canal Street

Canal Bike Trail

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Not for construction. This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.

Existing Conditions

Swift River Group Strathmore Campus Plan

Slope & Drainage The relatively level site is approximately 177 feet above mean sea level. The northern side of the property, adjacent to the Connecticut River, steeply slopes from the mill to the river.

Overall the property slopes gently from the canal to the river with the steepest slopes by the river bank.

Soils Soils on site consist almost entirely of artificial fill, and may require amendment depending on proposed use. The bedrock beneath the site is Turners Falls sandstone, a thin-bedded, red shaly sandstone. Outcrops of the stone can be seen in the Connecticut River, just west of the site on the conserved property across the river.

The Franklin County soils map indicates that soils in the area of the site are Merrimac sandy loam, 0-3% slopes - a slightly droughty sandy loam that is underlain by deep deposits of stratified sand and gravel. Moderately rapid to rapid permeability, along with moderate to low water-holding capacity, mean that water moves rapidly through the soil.

Brownfields A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment conducted by Tighe and Bond indicates high levels of PAH’s (polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons) on the site. This is thought to be due to coal, wood ash, and coal ash in the fill underlaying the site. The Phase I Environmental Site Assessment determined no need for remediation under the Massachusetts Contingency Plan.

A Phase II Environmental Building Assessment, also prepared

by Tighe and Bond, identified a significant number of asbestos issues and hazardous materials throughout the mill buildings.

These materials should be removed as necessary from the mill prior to demolition or renovation.

Legal The Massachusetts Rivers Protection Act restricts the extent of development within a 200-foot Riverfront Area. This corridor is measured from the mean annual high-water line on both sides of a perennial river or stream. There is an exception for mill buildings constructed before 1946 that reduces the Riverfront Area to 100 feet, applying only to the length of the mill building’s footprint parallel to the river.

The site is zoned historical industrial and the Northeast Utility Company owns much of the surrounding property, including a ten-foot-wide strip between the eastern boundary and the canal, which they use for maintenance access approximately once annually.

Views & Noise The Strathmore Mill’s location between the Connecticut River and the Power Canal affords wonderful views both to the east and west. The canal rushing by, truck traffic on the neighboring Esleek property (approximately 40 trucks per day), and the sound of hydroelectric equipment are sounds heard often.

Composite sun and shadows analysis, September 22. The darker the area, the fewer the hours of daily sun.

Sun/Shadows The southwestern side of the building receives the most sunlight during the summer months and fall.

During the winter and spring months the northern side of the building is in shadow for the greater portion of each day.

The exposed roof area of approximately 50,520 square feet is ideal for installing solar hot water, or photovoltaic system.

Green roof installation should also be strongly considered on flat, expansive, sun-exposed roofs. Some of the benefits include reducing temperature fluctuations both inside and outside the building, savings on heating and cooling costs in the long term, and increasing the lifespan of the roofing materials.

Vernal Equinox, March 20, 8:00 AM

Vernal Equinox, March 20, 12:00 PM

Vernal Equinox, March 20, 4:00 PM

Summer Solstice, June 20, 8:00 AM

Summer Solstice, June 20, 12:00 PM

Summer Solstice, June 20, 4:00 PM

Autumnal Equinox, September 22, 8:00 AM

Autumnal Equinox, September 22, 12:00 PM

Autumnal Equinox, September 22, 4:00 PM

Winter Solstice, December 21, 8:00 AM

Winter Solstice, December 21, 12:00 PM

Winter Solstice, December 21, 4:00 PM

Swift River Group Strathmore Campus Plan

Circulation Currently, there is limited vehicle circulation on site. Vehicular access to the mill is via a shared driveway owned by Northeast Generation Services Company and the current mill owners. The Strathmore site is also served by a tunnel through the basement of the Esleeck plant adjacent to its loading dock. Access is dependent upon a right-of-way agreement with Esleeck. The existing foot bridge historically used by mill workers as the main pedestrian access to the building is now closed. The pedestrian bridge extends from Canal Street across the canal to the fourth floor of the mill complex. The bridge is closed to pedestrians and will need to be repaired or replaced to allow access to the mill.

Watershed

CANADA

The Connecticut River, an American Heritage River, is the longest river in New England and it runs directly past the site.

At a total length of 407 miles, the river’s drainage basin extends over 11,250 square miles through New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut, and slightly into Canada. The Connecticut River Watershed is the largest river ecosystem in New England.

The volume and fall of the Connecticut led to the rise of industry along its banks in this area of Massachusetts, known as the Pioneer Valley. The site is not within any potentially productive aquifers, nor is it within an Interim Wellhead Protection Area of a public water supply.

Habitat Because of its proximity to the Connecticut River the entire site is within an area designated as Living Waters Critical Supporting Watershed by the National Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP). Careful management of runoff from the site can help contribute to the health of the river and this habitat.

The Critical Supporting Watershed identifies the more immediate portion of a Core Habitat’s watershed where conservation efforts should be targeted.

The stretch of the Connecticut River in Montague, downstream from Turners Falls Dam, is presumed habitat for burbot, a fish Species of Special Concern. The river also provides habitat to ten species of state-listed dragonflies, and a wide diversity of fish.

Burbot drawing by Laszlo Meszoly, from Hartel et al., 2002. Inland Fishes of Massachusetts

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SOURCES: MassGIS, National Heritage & Endangered Species Program, Franklin Regional Council of Governments, Montague assessors maps, site visits Not for construction. This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.

Summary Analysis The Strathmore Paper Mill is located between a manmade canal and the Connecticut River. This area falls entirely within the NHESP Critical Supporting Watershed, and the property’s slopes drain runoff into the Connecticut River. This makes it critical to handle stormwater on site in order to lessen the site’s impact on the river. Because of the narrow strip of land that the buildings sit on, circulation is restricted; road ways are limited and a pedestrian bridge spanning the canal is now closed.

Swift River Group Strathmore Campus Plan

A. Historic

COURTYARD: WATER COLLECTION & TREATMENT

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BIKE RENTAL CENTER

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ADA PARKING FRAME OF BUILDING 10 IN STEEL STRUCTURE

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Not for construction. These drawings are part of a student project and are not based on a legal survey.

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Three designs were developed to test alternative site programs. Each assumes off-site parking will be established to accommodate vehicles for special events, and that an agreement will be reached with neighboring properties for vehicle access. These alternatives also assume that the footbridge will be repaired.

This conceptual alternative maintains the historic appearance of the building. With this in mind, the means for energy production and stormwater management are integrated into the design only in ways that are subtle in appearance — for example, low-profile solar panels and a stormwater management system that is below grade or inside the building.

This design integrates green technology with a focus on the arts. In this design, energy is generated on site, and the stormwater from the buildings is stored for landscape irrigation and other non-potable uses. This design focuses on green technology and the arts, and features outdoor performance spaces. Performances and art events draw the public to the campus.

In this alternative the site’s green potential is maximized. The green technology processes are made apparent and in this way they serve as educational opportunities for the public. Energy is generated on site, and stormwater runoff is stored and reused. This design assumes that there are funding opportunities for projects that use sustainable practices as an educational tool.

Pros and Cons + Project may be a good - Green technologies aren’t candidate for historical tax credits

+ Design preserves the building’s historical appearance

+ Stormwater is collected and used on site

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utilized to their full potential Large roof surface area is not made into gathering spaces for people Educational opportunities for green technologies are limited.

+ People come to the campus

- The building’s historic

+ Energy is produced on site + The roof is used for

- Large roof surface area is

for cultural events

gathering areas

+ The courtyard is an inviting

appearance is not maintained

not available as gathering space

place for people to gather

+Building serves as an

educational model for green technologies and the process is made apparent

+ Energy is generated on

site, and gray water is reused to meet the needs of the building

- The historic look of the

building will be greatly altered

- Construction of additional components is labor intensive

- Potential for historic tax credits is minimal

+Food is grown on site +Green roofs minimize

heating and cooling costs

+Roofs become an asset

to the site, providing outdoor living spaces for the campus residents

Swift River Group Strathmore Campus Plan

Private Deck Patio Vegetated Buffer and cistern hold stormwater on site

Courtyard with performance and gathering space

Parking (12 cars)

Not for construction. This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.

An extensive green roof garden acts as an inviting and dramatic pedestrian entrance, and as an educational model demonstrating how photovolatic panels and green roofs work. The existing footbridge is rebuilt to be ADA accessible, and is enclosed with a solar panel roof acting as a landmark for the site. After crossing the bridge the first thing encountered is an iconic film reel

Vegetated Buffer

Cisterns for water STORAGE

Truck bay and building ARE removed

Bicycle parking

Green Roof ADA Parking Bike rental facility

Building 8 is removed to create an area for both truck turnaround and special events

Trestle bridge restored with a solar panelled roof and brought up to the 5th level so it becomes wheelchair accessible

sculpture, planted with sedum, and part of the green roof system. Past the film reel there is a row of solar panels, and a winding path that crosses over an extensive green roof onto a deck. The deck enters onto the fourth floor of the campus.

Swift River Group Strathmore Campus Plan

Elevation of proposed steps and seating.

Roof runoff is piped through a series of microhydro turbines to a green walled cistern for collection.

Outdoor movie screen

Sculpture garden created with found objects from the mill

Seating and stairs

Terraced gardens for screenings, an outdoor class room, special events and community gathering Micro-Hydro fountain

The frame on the footprint of building 10 is a tent structure for outdoor events

Not for construction. These drawings are part of a student project and are not based on a legal survey.

The courtyard provides the campus with an integral place for gathering, hosting public events, holding outdoor classes and showcasing green technologies.

The courtyard design can be applied to any of the alternative designs. This design has been created for a courtyard that was recently enlarged in a dramatic way: a fire destroyed a four-story building with a footprint of over 50,000 square feet. Before the fire, outdoor space was extremely limited.

The unfortunate fire created a new opportunity on the site for outdoor gathering spaces.

An additional constraint and opportunity on the site is a 28-foot drop between the road and the inner courtyard. If the courtyard is to be used, the bank will need significant stabilization. With this in mind, a stepped terrace system has been designed with additional outdoor gathering spaces.

Theater seating has been designed to take advantage of the slope and provide an outdoor venue for viewing films created on site.

Swift River Group Strathmore Campus Plan

Planting Notes A mix of hearty low-growing sedums and succulents, planted in broad swaths across the rooftop, provide year-round interest. A range of colors includes greens, reds, yellows, blues and grays; bursts of color from seasonal flowers add interest. Succulents bloom continuously between late spring and the first frost.

Lewisia pygmaea (pygmy bitterroot) Sedum nevii Sedum telephioides Sedum ternatum Sedum spurium Sedum stefco Sedum stenopetalum Sedum lanceolatum Sedum rupestre Sedum ochroleucum Talinum calycinum (Fame flower rockpink) Talinum rugospermum (Prairie fame flower) SOURCES: Brooklyn Botanic Garden, New England Wild Flower Society

The new fifth-floor entry to the building from the pedestrian bridge showcases extensive green roof design. A deck opens up from the narrow pedestrian bridge to a welcoming entrance. A path navigates visitors across the green roof without damaging the planting material that has variation in color and seasonal interest.

CHARACTERISTIC

EXTENSIVE GREEN ROOF

SOIL

Requires only 1-5 inches of soil depth

VEGETATION

Capable of including many kinds of vegetative groundcover and grasses

LOAD

Adds only 12-50 pounds per square foot depending on soil characteristics and the type of substrate

ACCESS

Usually not designed for public accessibility

MAINTENANCE

Annual maintenance walks should be performed until plants fill in

DRAINAGE

Irrigation and drainage systems are simple

Source: Schioz-Barth, Katrin. 2001. “Green Roofs: Stormwater Management From the Top Down.� Environmental Design & Construction. January 15.

What are the benefits of a green roof to the Strathmore mill?

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Reduces urban heat islands by providing shade and through evapotranspiration, the release of water from plants to the surrounding air

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Reduces sewage system loads by assimilating large amounts of rainwater

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Absorbs air pollution, collects airborne particulates, and stores carbon

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Protects underlying roof material by eliminating exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation and extreme daily temperature fluctuations

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Serves as living environment that provides habitat for birds and other small animals

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Offers an attractive alternative to traditional roofs, addressing growing concerns about urban quality of life

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Reduces noise transfer from the outdoors

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Insulates building from extreme temperatures, mainly by keeping the building interior cool in the summer

VEGETATION EXTENSIVE GROWTH MEDIUM ROOT PERMEABLE FILTER LAYER DRAINAGE & CAPILLARY LAYER PROTECTION & STORAGE LAYER ROOF DECK, INSULATION & WATERPROOFING

EXTENSIVE GREEN ROOF SYSTEM

Adapted from Green Roof Service, LLC; www greenroofservice.com/learning

Source: Environmental ProtectionAgency, www.epa.gov/hiri strategies/greenroofs.html

Removing Building 8 creates space for a courtyard that does double duty as truck turnaround. Cobblestones are laid out in a pattern in part of the space, defining an inviting and shady spot to sit.

The approximately 6,800-square-foot space also includes two ADA accessible parking spots. Two stories down, another courtyard, home to the base of the smokestack, contains a rainwater storage system. Rainwater runoff from roofs (approximately 632 gallons of water per inch of rain per 1000 square feet of roof) is stored in tanks, and can be used for non-potable uses such as toilet flushing or landscape irrigation.

Not for construction. This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.

Swift River Group Strathmore Campus Plan

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With the closing of the industrial revolution many old buildings that were created in a time of prosperity have been left vacant. Throughout the country many former manufacturing buildings have been undergoing renovation The Strathmore Paper Mill, located in Turners Falls, Massachusetts, provides an excellent opportunity for adaptive reuse.

The Strathmore Paper Mill, built in the 1800s, is in a location with natural beauty and the convenience of an urban area. Turners Falls is an unusual community in that it was laid out in a grid from its start in order to be

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Rooftop deck serves as a gathering space for students

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Bicycle parking

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Truck turnaround and multipurpose gathering area

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Solar-panalled bridge connects building complex to Canal Road

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Steel structure in the footprint of building 10 serves as tent structure and stage area

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Parking area

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Green-walled cistern

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Movie screen

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Sign for the campus in the style of old mill signs

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Rooftop garden with solar panells and greenroof

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Patio

pedestrian friendly and allow for the mill workers to walk to work. Today these buildings provide infrastructure for a successful community that is pedestrian friendly and in a position to reinvent itself as a more ecologically friendly town.

The Swift River Group plans to reuse and revitalize this mill complex, making it a vital place for people to live, study, work, and play. This project has the potential to be ecologicaly sensitive while educating the community about regenerative design and energy production, and preserving an area of great historical significance.

Swift River Group Strathmore Campus Plan

The Conway School of Landscape Design is the only institution of its kind in North America. Its focus is sustainable landscape planning and design and each year through its accredited, ten-month graduate program, up to twenty students are immersed in a range of applied landscape studies, ranging in scale from residences to regions. Graduates have gone on to diverse professional roles in many aspects of landscape planning and design with an eye to sustainability. www.csld.edu