Commercial Landscapes: Green Space Makes Good Sense
Article by: RVi Project Manager, Christina Martin,RLA, LEEP AP
Why is landscape architecture important to commercial green building?
Without landscape, a commercial site is potentially hot, inhospitable, and inefficient. A well-designed landscape not only helps a commercial project become a more attractive place to work or shop, but contributes to the achievement of many green building goals, including conservation of water, energy, and materials, improved water quality, and heat island reduction. To reach such goals, the landscape should be considered from the onset of a project. A sustainable landscape is multi-functional, and should build on the connections between landscape, architecture, and engineering. Thoughtful design and use of well-adapted native plants can create a commercial landscape that is appropriate and appealing, while making the best use of limited water resources.
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This rock wall at Lowe's was created using material found on site. |
Understanding the site
Landscape architecture must be integrated into project planning from the very beginning for the greatest benefit to the environment. During site analysis, key areas for protection can be
documented, and those areas can be protected during the construction process to minimize disturbance and protect soil quality. Natural features such as existing large trees may enhance commercial projects and, once removed, it is difficult and costly to replace them. On-site materials (such as stone, wood, even concrete and other building materials) not preserved in place may be reused in the landscape as walls, seating, special paving or other features, with reduced costs and production energy compared to new materials.
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Rainwater collected from Lowe's roof is stored in cisterns and used to irrigate the landscape. |
Integrating the landscape and the building
As planning continues, collaboration between landscape architects and other disciplines remains important for a multi-functional and sustainable landscape. One connection between buildings and the landscape is water: rainwater from the roof or condensate from air conditioning can be collected and used for landscape irrigation, thus conserving water. Where appropriate, the roof itself can be green and planted. When integrated with daylighting strategies, the visual aspect of the landscape becomes even more important: attractive views from windows contribute to employee health, happiness, and productivity. In our climate, landscaping should be designed to shade and cool buildings as much as possible.
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Stormwater retention ponds filter run-off and return water to the aquifer. |
Handling water run-off
Sustainable landscaping is about more than just the vegetation. The choice of landscape materials for paving influences the quantity of water run-off, heat island reduction, and other impacts from parking lots. There are a variety of pervious paving materials that minimize stormwater run-off. The run-off that does occur may be slowed and filtered with landscaped bio-retention areas. When ponds and water-quality areas are necessary, they can be incorporated into the larger landscape to become site amenities. By carefully studying drainage, rain gardens can be used to increase water infiltration while decreasing the amount of stormwater infrastructure required. Working together, the project team can create a more purposeful and cost-saving landscape.
Implementing the design
Beyond the design stages, construction methods and proper maintenance of the landscape must be considered so that environmental benefits can be fully realized. Like other building contractors, landscape contractors should understand how to reduce waste and protect the site during construction. Native plants with low water requirements must be properly maintained, not overwatered or overfertilized. Integrated pest management will help ensure that excess pesticides do not enter the water system.
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Native plants, such as this prickly pear cactus, know how to thrive in our climate. |
Benefiting from the landscape
The landscape itself provides many benefits, from cleaner air and a cooler site to outdoor spaces where people can connect with nature. Wise landscape design brings additional benefits of water and energy conservation. Use of locally available plant and materials reduces the energy needed to transport materials to the site. Of course, native plants are the best adapted to the local climate, and are therefore well-suited for a water-efficient landscape. Design can be used to minimize overall water requirements by focusing attention and irrigation on more visible public areas, transitioning to less managed native areas that may not require supplemental watering after establishment. Even native plants must have water when newly planted, but irrigation technology exists today that will carefully monitor rainfall and evapotranspiration, and will avoid waste by providing water to plants only when they need it.
The landscape plays an important role in green building. Commercial projects will benefit most by taking the landscape and its relationship to other parts of the project into account from the start. The synergy will help create an attractive landscape that ultimately benefits the site and our environment.
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