Saturating the Built Environment: Infusing Stormwater and the Public Realm

Keihly MooreUrban Designer / Planner / Architect-in-training

keihly.moore@thelawrencegroup.com

Lake Superior Iowa, 2008 Duluth, MN 2012 Charlotte, 2011

My history | My motivations | Local, regional, national + international relevance

In the 1960’s, citizens became increasingly upset regarding the sewage stench from Sugar and Little Sugar Creeks in Charlotte. In response to numerous citizen complaints, the Mecklenburg County Health Department hung 55 gallon drums of orange blossom deodorant from bridges and allowed the fragrant liquid to drip into creeks to mask the odors. This effort proved unsuccessful. Water quality problems came to head in the late 1960’s.

http://charmeck.org/stormwater/VolunteerGetInvolved/Documents/Fun%20and%20Facts%20PDF/HistoryofWaterinOurCommunity.pdf

Problems that exists at many scales require solutions that exist in multiple scales.

Waterfronts Urban Design / Neighborhood scale Buildings: interaction with the ground/water

Itinerary | Northern Europe | Summer 2012: May 16-June 15

UtrechtThe HagueRotterdam

City of the SunAmsterdam

Netherlands

Denmark

Sweden

GermanyCopenhagen

MalmoStockholm

Hamburg

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I ti n e r a r y

Amsterdam | Netherlands | Westerpark

Rotterdam | Netherlands | Westersingel: used for water control

Rotterdam | Netherlands | Westersingel: used for water control

Rotterdam | Netherlands | Watersquare Benthemplein by De Urbanisten

Rotterdam | Netherlands | Watersquare Benthemplein by De Urbanisten

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Rotterdam | Netherlands | Watersquare Benthemplein by De Urbanisten

Rotterdam | Netherlands | Watersquare Benthemplein by De Urbanisten

Rotterdam | Netherlands | Watersquare Benthemplein by De Urbanisten

Portland | USA | bioswale | Taking up space - need more integration in a city setting!

Charlotte | USA | Redefine the sidewalk, reveal processes, layer functions

Collect water from the roof

Layer functions, see change

Extra storage to release slowly

Charlotte | USA | My Site | East Boulevard

0’ 200’

0

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re fe

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Parking lotsBuilding Roofs

1401

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East Boulevard Address

1608 1600 1528 1520 1514 1512 1500 1412 1801 Scott Ave

17,768 sf

planting strip buffer

parking lots

0.41 acres11,076 gallons of water runoff from 1” rainfall

140,150 sf

building rooftops

3.22 acres87,433 gallons of water runoff from 1” rainfall

271,392 sf6.23 acres169,173 gallons of water runoff from 1” rainfall

pedestrian crosswalk

pedestrian mid-block crossing

street intersection

driveway/parking lot entrance

existing buildings on site

(calculated impervious surface)

street trees

water flow direction

690’

680’

670’660’ 650’

640’

1100 ft toLittle Sugar Creek

Charlotte | USA | Site inventory | Potential stormwater collection areas

0’ 200’

0

30,000

60,000

90,000

120,000

150,000

Squa

re fe

et Impervious Surfaces

Parking lotsBuilding Roofs

1401

1401

1801

1501

1500

1601

1600

1405 1409 1413 1419 1501 1511 1525 1531 1617 1621

East Boulevard Address

1608 1600 1528 1520 1514 1512 1500 1412 1801 Scott Ave

17,768 sf

planting strip buffer

parking lots

0.41 acres11,076 gallons of water runoff from 1” rainfall

140,150 sf

building rooftops

3.22 acres87,433 gallons of water runoff from 1” rainfall

271,392 sf6.23 acres169,173 gallons of water runoff from 1” rainfall

pedestrian crosswalk

pedestrian mid-block crossing

street intersection

driveway/parking lot entrance

existing buildings on site

(calculated impervious surface)

street trees

water flow direction

690’

680’

670’660’ 650’

640’

1100 ft toLittle Sugar Creek

Charlotte | USA | Mapping and site inventory

Storm structures Storm channels Storm pipes

1100 ft

Storm structures Storm channels Storm pipes

Area waterways

Charlotte | USA | Stormwater infrastructure

privately owned outdoor public space

public space

There is little open public space along this corridor here. Privately owned spaces are back, away from the street. Can the street become more vibrant with publicspaces more visibly on the street?

Charlotte | USA | Public space inventory

Scott Ave | East Boulevard

Cumberland Ave | East Boulevard

Charlotte | USA | Site inventory | Current Conditions

32'

60'

15'

16' 16'

Little Sugar Creek +Little Sugar Creek watershed

Flood zone

Reduce down stream flooding

Destination:

Retention

2000 sf

1000 sf1000 sf

1000 sf

1000 sf

timed release

Sidewalk Cistern : 4’ x 4’ x 15’ = 240 cu. ft | 1793 gallon capacity

Working within design standards to integrate water collection into the urban environment.

Water Quantity : 1” Rain + 2000 sf roof = 1247 gallons

Slowingcleansing

sto

rin

g

storing

1247 Gallons

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1” Rain

Charlotte | USA | Store > Show > Slow > Soak

32'

60'

15'

16' 16'

Little Sugar Creek +Little Sugar Creek watershed

Flood zone

Reduce down stream flooding

Destination:

Retention

2000 sf

1000 sf1000 sf

1000 sf

1000 sf

timed release

Sidewalk Cistern : 4’ x 4’ x 15’ = 240 cu. ft | 1793 gallon capacity

Working within design standards to integrate water collection into the urban environment.

Water Quantity : 1” Rain + 2000 sf roof = 1247 gallons

Slowingcleansing

sto

rin

g

storing

1247 Gallons

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200

300

400

500

600

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1” Rain

Charlotte | USA | rainfall > channel > collect > see > soak

Curbless streets encourage a shared space between water, people and vehicles.

Roof collection moving water to the street.

Phase 1:Parking lot retrofi t

The white grid indicates the path of water movement

Scot

t Ave

nue

East Boulevard

Public space functions in commercial and entertainment purposes. Water visibility adds a layer of environmental education and awareness.

Parking deck water collection and movement corresponds with public space. The movement of the water shapes the place.

Water is collected and brought to the bioswales, watering the trees along the way.

Roof collection - conveyance to the street

Water flow

Varied facade that channels, directs, collects

Water conveyance becomes entries, seating, and bus shelters

Charlotte | USA | Store > Show > Slow > Soak

Collect water from the roof

Layer functions, see change

Extra storage to release slowly

Sidewalk as collaged experience

Bridging panel

Stamped concrete

Stones add texture, filtration and permeability

Water weaves down East Boulevard

Grate hole aperaturesvary to allow for peering into, permeability and sustaining healthy plant growth

Charlotte | USA | Sidewalk as a permable surface

Play!

Can down spoutsmorph into sittable spaces or mailboxes?

Sidewalk Cistern

Visibility and uncovering our infrastructure is a primary goal.

The facade throws water into the right place while sidewalk cisterns frame public space, acting in rhythm and public art, cluing people into their environment.

Charlotte | USA | Combining systems - cisterns and sidealks

Questions | How do we get these integrated solutions implemented?

What are the challenges to implementing these kinds of stratgies on the local level?

- political? - policies and regulations?- funding?- health and safety?

How can we overcome these challenges? What can we do today to get closer to implementing integrated solutions?

Would you like to chat further?Keihly.moore@thelawrencegroup.com