Streetscapes and Gateways: Project Profiles

Begun in 2002, the Battery Park City Streetscape Project is an urban design project for the improvement of the streetscapes, parks amenities and connections, and perimeter security at the World Financial Center. The project includes a comprehensive study of innovative prototypes to provide a higher level of security at sensitive areas while maintaining both an appropriate pedestrian experience at the street and the recognized vocabulary of the neighborhood.

This streetscape project will demonstrate a sustainable, ecologically sound approach to reducing polluted stormwater runoff by incorporating low-impact storm water management design elements, such as porous brick pavers, rain gardens with native plantings, and curbside bioretention for capturing and treating runoff, on and adjacent to the historic Virginia State Capitol Square.

Penn Connects – A Vision for the Future, outlines the growth of the University of Pennsylvania and represents a strategic use of contemporary planning, urban and landscape design. It provides a model for integrating campus and the surrounding urban fabric to create a visionary framework for public realm improvements and campus expansion.

It is human nature to revert to survival mode after a devastating event like the tornado that struck Greensburg, destroying over 90 percent of the town's buildings and structures. Despite the physical and psychological strain of the disaster, the people of Greensburg knew that in order to preserve the future of the town, they needed to step back and create a long term vision for rebuilding. That vision came in the form of a Comprehensive Master Planning Process.

Chicago's Green Alley program is the latest in a long line of environmentally friendly initiatives put forth by Mayor Daley. A "Green Alley" is defined as an alley designed and constructed incorporating best management practices of environmentally sustainable design. Download the award-winning booklet.

Rather than viewing a roadway project as solely a way to move more cars and trucks faster, the goal of the St. Louis Great Streets Initiative is to trigger economic and social benefits by centering communities around interesting, lively and attractive streets that serve all modes of transportation.

This project unites the site of a new research facility and creates a green gateway experienced by vehicle passengers of a major arterial to ASU where parking lots and a sterile retention basin once existed. Plazas are nestled into a desert riparian garden that harvests storm water and condensate from the architecture while creating urban habitat for student gathering and study. The setting provides an opportunity to promote sustainable practices in a busy public space.

Geos will be the largest net-zero energy, urban mixed-use neighborhood in the United States. Earth and sun power will completely sustain the community’s energy needs, and replace all fossil fuels. The neighborhood is intertwined with natural systems, stormwater fed landscapes, and civic places. Rain and snow melt feed street tree rain gardens, percolation parks, plazas, and community gardens. Geos received final development approval from the City of Arvada and will begin construction in Summer

The SW 12th Avenue Green Street project, located adjacent to Portland State University in downtown Portland, is unique to Portland and the United States in the way the pedestrian zone of this street has been transformed to sustainably manage street stormwater runoff. As part of the City of Portland’s commitment to promote a more natural approach to urban stormwater management, this “green street” project converts the previously underutilized landscape area between the sidewalk and street

Many San Francisco streets are excessively wide and contain large zones of wasted space, especially at intersections. San Francisco’s new “Pavement to Parks” projects seek to temporarily reclaim these unused swathes and quickly and inexpensively turn them into new public plazas and parks.

Education and advocacy group promotes permeable landscape as stormwater management tool, by replacing wide sidewalks with plantings and permeable pavement.