Introduction

When competing for space in urban development, stormwater management solutions — particularly those such as “daylighted” raingardens with prohibitive footprints — often find themselves at the bottom of the priority list. And yet, as cities expand, impervious surfaces multiply, increasing runoff and overloading drainage systems.

So, how do designers simultaneously satisfy development needs and embrace sustainable stormwater strategies in space-constrained areas?

With creative LID solutions like the Marino Cell: a shallow stormwater storage module that increases the built environment’s stormwater capacity with a buildable real estate footprint of zero.

Urban Space Constraints

For decades, urban stormwater management has relied on large-scale infrastructure: deep detention basins, expansive underground vaults, and sprawling retention ponds. While effective in some contexts, these methods require substantial space, making them impractical in dense city environments.

Space constraints often force cities to prioritize buildings, roads, and utilities over green infrastructure, leading to:

• Increased surface runoff, overwhelming municipal drainage systems.
• A loss of opportunities for tree growth, public green spaces, and permeable surfaces.
• Rising costs as stormwater is funneled into expensive, centralized treatment systems.

The truth is that, with new innovative GI products, green stormwater management and maximizing buildable space need not be mutually exclusive. Likewise, stormwater can be harnessed as an asset for at-source benefits.

Marino Cell: A Space-Efficient Solution

The Marino Cell allows us to manage stormwater in spaces that were never possible before. When buildable real estate is at a premium, Marino Cell can be utilized to upgrade a site’s stormwater capacity. Unlike traditional deep vaults or detention ponds, the Marino Cell:

• Fits into tight urban spaces: The space beneath sidewalks, parking lots, and plazas can now be leveraged for stormwater management.
• Has a shallow profile: The system’s size and modularity make it compatible with existing utilities and tree roots.
• Works with multi-functional urban landscapes: Marino Cell integrates with green infrastructure such as rain gardens and tree pits, wringing maximum on-site value from runoff.
• Handles heavy loads: Marino Cell meets H-20 loading, making it ideal for heavy traffic zones.

Marino Cell empowers cities to store, filter, and reuse stormwater efficiently — without sacrificing valuable real estate.

The Future of Urban Stormwater Management

As cities continue to grow, space-efficient stormwater solutions will become increasingly essential and a method for us to build more resilient, livable spaces.

The Marino Cell offers a practical, high-performance solution for tackling stormwater challenges in even the most space-constrained environments. By integrating it into urban landscapes, cities can embrace green infrastructure, enhance climate resilience, and create healthier communities — without compromising on space. Let’s move beyond traditional stormwater thinking and start designing cities that work with water, not against it.