LASN is a photographically oriented, professional journal featuring topics of concern and state-of-the-art projects designed or influenced by registered Landscape Architects.
Issue link: https://landscapearchitect.epubxp.com/i/107181
NCCWP (Continued from page 68) Right The raised employee dinning terrace features views of the rain garden below. To complement and contrast the organic edges of the rain garden materials, the dinning terrace uses sleek, smooth green slate pavers in various sizes and a curved layout. The dinning terrace is paved with radial bands of green slate pavers and shaded by honeylocusts. The railing is made of glass panels with stainless steel posts set into a precast concrete cap. The railing is designed to have minimal visual impact and allow unobstructed views outwards. The concrete wall has a precast cap. Above A galvanized steel pedestrian bridge with a custom glass railing with stainless posts links the walkway and employee dining terrace. The bridge is perforated to give views of the rain garden below. Bottom, Right Environmental artist and sculptor Ned Kahn created a moving aluminum wind sculpture that is mounted to the parking garage wall. The small metal pieces flutter in the wind and reflect light, creating an ever changing mural. Honey locust trees and 'Shamrock' inkberry holly and cherry laurel shrubs offer a green buffer between buildings. the green roof will improve the quality of the surface water that enters the local water table and streams. The project is in the watershed of Paint Branch Creek, which flows into the Anacostia River. The local parks are working to clean up the eight-mile Anacostia. Although surrounded by parkland the Anacostia is severely polluted. Both the Anacosita River and the Potomac River flow into the Chesapeake Bay. This is one part of a long effort to revitalize the Chesapeake Bay, an initiative that is now starting to bear fruit. Maryland officials view green roof technology as one of the best efforts towards meeting EPA clean water rules and welcome the introduction of green roofs to all projects. Central Rain Garden Although there were no naturally occurring bodies of water on site, the site design features 70 Landscape Architect and Specifier News a central rain garden in the heart of the development. When the green roofs reach their detention capacity the main sloped roof of the building discharges storm water into the central rain garden. The main point at which water from the roof is harvested and collected is a unique waterfall scupper designed as a piece of landscape art. It is located between the main entry to the facility and the central atrium space, and is fully visible from both inside and outside the building. A series of stainless steel cables vertically connect the architectural scupper with a precast concrete bowl at the ground. This purpose of the bowl is to accept the falling stormwater, with the spill over going into the surrounding rain garden. In extreme rain events, the intent is for water to splash out of the bowl, making visible the relative intensity of the storm. (Continued on page 72)