In dense urban areas, implementing stormwater management systems large enough to support healthy trees can be challenging given the multitude of street uses and the high volume of pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle traffic. One option for providing stormwater control without impacting competing surface needs is using a suspended pavement system like Silva Cell. Solutions like… More
In Part One of this blog we set the stage to select quality trees by starting with a good specification, working within the normal project submittal process, and resetting our expectation of what constitutes a good quality tree. The requirements for inspecting the parts of the tree aboveground were reviewed. For the inspection of the… More
Many trees purchased from nurseries may have significant defects that can reduce the useful life of the tree. This isn’t just speculation; there is good evidence that large segments of the nursery industry are supplying defective plants. Brian Kane at the Urban Tree Foundation and Ed Gilman at the University of Florida, both respected researchers… More
When I signed up to help design and build a parklet for this year’s PARK(ing) Day event with my local American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) chapter, I knew it would be a lot of work – but had no idea just how intense the dozens of hours of work designing and then installing it… More
Today’s workplaces are a notable departure from those of the cubicle-filled past. With a better understanding of how design affects the mind, forward-thinking companies have rethought florescent lights, desk partitions, and separate departments, opting for natural light and flexible work zones to support creativity, focus, and teamwork. As companies strive to keep a competitive edge,… More
Have you ever had someone step on your foot? It hurts, right? Your foot has lots of little bones that are sensitive just like a tree has roots. Cities are considering ways to protect those tree roots and allow space for seasonal plantings that add vibrancy to downtown and mixed-use areas. There are a variety… More
Planting trees and other large plant material in built-up urban areas in arid climates is always a challenge. More often than not, the constraints are numerous and the opportunities are few. When a project is initially conceived, consideration must be given to all constraints, long before preliminary design plans begin. By developing a realistic plan… More
Light pollution has become a frustration for many a star-gazer. Those who seek the heavens must drive far outside of urban centers and away from light-lined interstates in order to truly see the night sky, and even then, the effects of light pollution cannot be completely escaped. Light from our streetlights and buildings travels farther… More
Intrinsic to the success of cities and the quality of life they offer is how people move within them. For the past century, the car has been the central consideration in the design and planning of our urban areas. Increasingly, however, the car-dominated planning era is behind us, as city dwellers are more frequently walking,… More
In the U.S., cars are king. Our cities and neighborhoods are designed around how cars travel though them, and pedestrians are secondary – if a pedestrian can safely cross traffic, the area is deemed a success. It has long been said that if you plan cities for cars and traffic, you will get cars and… More
Soil. Stormwater. Sustainable Infrastructure.
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