ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT & ENGINEERING

12/Green Infrastructure Design, Lexington, Kentucky

PROBLEM

The owner of a commercial building needs to provide water quality treatment for stormwater runoff from an existing parking lot. The client is interested in using green infrastructure design to provide low maintenance treatment devices without losing many parking spaces.

SMG'S APPROACH

SMG developed a bio-retention cell design that will fit into an eight-foot wide median between rows of parking spaces. This bio-retention cell will have plantings that help to treat pollutants and reduce the volume of stormwater. The plantings are arranged in a manner that enhances the aesthetic environment, giving it the appearance of a landscaping feature rather than a stormwater treatment device.

RESULTS

Preliminary designs have determined that the bio-retention cell will treat stormwater runoff from nearly 40% of the site as well as reduce the total quantity of stormwater that leaves the site. The client has decided to attract attention to their bio-retention cell with a sign describing the utility of the device beyond its aesthetics.