Thoreau Center for Sustainability

Site Description

Site

The landscape features surrounding the Thoreau Center are also included in the landmark designation. The large open grass areas, significant historic plantings and exterior circulation patterns are all a part of the historic cultural landscape. As such, the design of new landscape elements must also meet requirements of the Secretary of the Interior's Guidelines for Historic Rehabilitations.

In addition to restoration and maintenance of the existing features, Cheryl Barton, the landscape architect, incorporated the following sustainable landscape practices:

• Rehabilitation rather than removal of historic plant materials;
• Minimization of earthwork—new grades work with existing slopes;
• Soil building with organic amendments in lieu of synthetic fertilizers;
• Water conservation through the introduction of drought-tolerant plants;
• Low-flow irrigation systems, and the capture of rainwater for supplemental irrigation;
• Excavation and use of historic drainage structures to minimize runoff;
• Removal of evergreen trees (replaced with deciduous trees) on south side of buildings to maximize interior daylighting;
• Reduction in asphalt paving and parking areas;
• Installation of alternatives to turf lawns such as low-growing ground cover, unmown grasses and wildflowers, and decomposed granite; and
• Updated National Park Service standard landscape specifications via research from green databases and product literature on sustainable materials and products.

A Thoreau Courtyard was created as a public garden.

Water

Low-flow plumbing fixtures were specified and installed because they conserve water as well as reduce distribution pumping energy and lower domestic hot water heating energy.

Site elements that were integrated into the design for water conservation include: introduction of drought-tolerant plants, use of low-flow irrigation systems, and capture of rainwater for supplemental irrigation.

Excavation and use of historic drainage structures minimize runoff.

• Lot size: 131,000 ft2
• Building footprint: 32,800 sq ft (3,040 sq meters)
• Previously developed land, Preexisting structure(s)

Green Strategies

• Ecosystem Restoration
  • Convert turf areas to native desert, prairie, or woodland ecosystem
• Runoff Reduction
  • Avoid contiguous impermeable surfaces
• Landscape Plantings
  • Landscape with indigenous vegetation
  • Minimize turf area
• Low-Water-Use Fixtures
  • Use low-flow toilets
• Integration with Site Resources
  • Celebrate and enhance existing landscape features
• Alternatives to Chemical Treatment
  • Use the least toxic treatment methods and materials for pest control around new buildings
• Low-Impact Siting
  • Select building sites that make use of existing infrastructure
• Site Planning
  • Follow natural contours with roadways, utility lines, etc.
  • Protect and celebrate a site’s uniqueness

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Our thanks to the ENERGY STAR program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and to the U.S. Department of Energy, and to BuildingGreen, Inc. for hosting the submission and judging forms.

For more information about the AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Projects, contact AIA/COTE. For help on how to use this Web site, contact .