Biodiversity

Biodiversity is important to our family of companies that provide a variety of environmental services. Although biodiversity is limited in the workplace, office plants add to our biodiversity as well as out exterior features.

WSC supports industry groups that value biodiversity such as the U.S. Compost Council, the Iowa Sustainable Business Forum, various vegetation management associations, the Arbor Day Foundation, and more.

Biophilia

Even though our footprint is small, we understand the value of plants for the office interior. They improve air quality, absorb pollutants, reduce airport dust, and absorb background noise, creating a positive environment for our employees and guests. WOS supplies the corporate office with plants placed throughout the office from the lobby, offices, workstations, common areas, café, connector and other areas throughout the office. They also provide landscaping work and a different seasonal arrangement for our front desk in the lobby each week.

Our interior plantscaping team brings plants indoors. This design practice is known as biophilic design and is based on the principle that contact and exposure to nature is a basic human need, as opposed to an amenity or individual preference. Bringing plants indoors can purify the air and provide insulation which in turn, can reduce heating, cooling, and utility costs. Green spaces within a home or office space also provide numerous health and wellbeing benefits to those occupying a space.

Jennifer Anderson, General Manager at Wright Outdoor Solutions

Employee Community Garden

Due to the renovations, the employee community garden was removed and relocated on the campus. Materials were reused and the garden was rebuilt by WOS in 2021. The community garden now has 34 plots that were filled with 68CY of Lounsbury’s garden mix which is a mixture of topsoil, sand and compost. Each plot has an irrigation system to assist with watering as not all employees with a plot are at the office each day to do so. A shed was added to house tools and materials and a compost bin is now located within the garden to dispose of wasted produce and plants at the end of the season via the office compost program.

Landscaping

At the remodeled headquarters, 70 trees were planted of 29 different species with an estimation to have the potential to sequester 66.2 tons of carbon a year. (Source: A medium growth coniferous or deciduous tree, planted in an urban setting and allowed to grow for 10 years, sequesters 23.2 and 38 lbs of carbon respectively Greenhouse Gases Equivalencies Calculator - Calculations and References | US EPA)

A total of 857 trees, conifers, shrubs, perennials & grasses were planted during the WSC renovation.

Trees: 70 planted, 29 species

Conifers: 33 planted, 15 species

Shrubs: 162 planted, 26 species

Perennials: 392 planted, 22 species

Grasses: 200 planted, 7 species

LANDSCAPE DESIGN OBJECTIVES:

‒ Provide native trees and plants that will fit into the natural theme of the design and that will provide a natural food source and cover for migratory songbirds.

‒ Provide a deer resistant (tolerant) tree and plant palette.

‒ Ensure that we do not have a monoculture of trees/plants. As pests and diseases emerge in the future, it is important that we choose a wide variety of plants. This prevents massive loss of specific plants if a new pest should appear in our area.

‒ Seasonal interest – select trees and plants that will offer interest through all seasons: spring flowers, summer shade with different leaf sizes and textures, fall color and winter interest with interesting bark or overall plant structure.

‒ Block or enhance views – block unappealing views and enhance beautiful views through tree and plant placement.

‒ Provide sustainable pollinator habitat and food source for honeybees, butterflies and other wildlife.

Arboretum

Incorporated into the 3-acre area where the new employee walking trail is located will be the future home of a pollinator space project. This small acreage was dedicated to native habitat, and therefore WSC partnered with the Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund (BBHF) to provide seeds and expertise advice. BBHF is an organization whose mission is to increase and improve pollinator habitat by working with landowners and developing precision seed mixtures to build a healthy and sustainable pollinator habitat.

A cover crop seeding of oats was utilized to protect the soil surface and for weed suppression. In November, the corporate office staff at the headquarters hand-seeded the space by dedicated department area for frost seeding for a 2022 spring germination. One a low native prairie mix dedicated to the bee pollinator species and a tall native prairie mix for butterfly pollinator species.