Dozens of projects in Madison, Wisconsin, are proving the effectiveness of Silva Cells in towns of any size and climate
For more than 12 years, Silva Cells have been supporting tree growth in Madison, providing uncompacted soil volume for urban forests across the city. Dozens of projects show off Silva Cells’ versatility, from streetscapes to courtyards — these projects of all sizes include everything from a few trees along Bassett Street to more than 30 trees at the University’s Stephen M Bennett Athletic Center.
Number of Projects: 25+
Project Timeline: 2013 to Present
Number of Trees: 200+
Project Applications: Streetscapes, Stadiums, Courtyards, Plazas, Schools, etc.
Released in late 2022, Madison’s “Complete Green Streets” initiative cites citywide tree canopy coverage of 23% — the long-term goal is to increase this canopy cover to 40%. The plan identifies soil volume targets for various tree sizes as an important factor in this effort and mentions “suspended pavement is one solution for planting trees in constrained conditions.”
Concerned about achieving Madison’s ambitious canopy goals, Jen Plants (President of the Marquette Neighborhood Association) doesn’t want to see only narrow-canopy trees planted in new developments. Instead, she recommends Silva Cells. “[Plants] maintains that she would like to see new technology allow larger trees to be planted in those smaller terraces. There are some ways to do that — one technology called Silva Cell uses a highly engineered underground infrastructure to support larger trees in paved areas.”
One of the first phases in the new development known as Madison Yards — a future-focused community serving the open, engaged, and progressive Madison culture and a walkable, mixed-use district that boasts thousands of employees, 500+ residential units — was the government building, the largest state-owned office building in Wisconsin. Its outdoor plaza features more than 20 trees planted in Silva Cells, each one accessing uncompacted soil volume for healthy growth.
In the depths of Wisconsin winter, the temperature plummets to an average low of 11 degrees Fahrenheit — and Silva Cells have no problem performing in this climate, as they’ve been doing for years in Madison and other cold-weather cities.