Green Infrastructure Digest

Streetscape

Underground Rainwater Harvesting Tanks

No Curbs with Filter Strips

The Middle Tennessee Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architecture recently presented Hawkins Partners, Inc. a 2009 Honor Award in the environmental/urban design category for its work on the Hill Center in Green Hills.

Hollie Cummings, executive director of ASLA Tennessee Chapter, was quoted in an article in the Tennessean (Hill Center wins architecture award for urban design) saying, “The jury appreciated the use of details that served to unify the development and resulted in a cohesive design solution.”

HPI was involved in the planning, design, and construction of this infill redevelopment project located in Green Hills. The 220,000 s.f. mixed-use development consists of retail, restaurant, and office space. Site design elements include a pedestrian activated streetscape, which consists of wide sidewalks for shoppers, places for people to sit and relax or visit with friends, and outdoor dining along a tree-lined boulevard.

Sustainability played a big role in the design process. HPI collaborated with the design team to provide 100% improvement in the stormwater treatment over the previous site conditions. The site captures rainwater in a 25,000 gallon underground tank for use in irrigating the landscape (comprised primarily of native plants), and also utilizes new bioretention areas, which slow and reduce runoff – ultimately helping lower the temperature of runoff into the nearby Sugartree Creek. Some other items include a white roof on the Whole Foods store, over 60% of the parking is provided by covered structures and all the site lighting utilizes cut-off luminaires to reduce light pollution.

This project also won the Excellence in Development Award presented by Urban Land Institute (ULI).

– Kelly Copeland