Arnaud Van Blommen

Nashville adopts form-based code for downtown

Thanks much to Chad and Charles. Are there specific details that you used, or did you just design your own details for each specific site? I’m going to look at SSI and see if there are any parking lots in their case studies; looking for pictures of good examples to show client that it can look good as well as earn them LEED credits!

Naomi-
If 6″ curbs are a must, explore the possibility of using curb cuts at regular intervals or where it makes sense….the cuts will still allow runoff to enter the depression. Clay soils? Maybe grade soil towards a central trench/basin filled with gravel. Put an underdrain at the bottom of the gravel and follow Charles’ suggestion of piping…[Read more]

Naomi
We have done quite a few parking lots with the planting islands as depressed catchment areas. Most of the time we have to plumb them together to get rid of the water as infiltration is not good. One problem I have seen is that these areas tend collect litter and looks bad unless cleaned oftern.

We are strictly a design firm. I personally have some construction experience. When I hire, the FIRST thing I ask is about ANY hands-on experience. It’s extremely important in the residential design and PM environment. Although contractors are very helpful to interns during the construction process, I find that the construction mindset makes it…[Read more]

I just took a little Green Associate Review the week before last as part of training for BPI (Building Performance Institute) certification. I plan to take the GA test within the next few weeks, so I’ll post how it goes.

Anyone have a good detail/case study for using planting islands as small stormwater catchment areas? This is for the northeast, and the parking lot will most likely have standard curbs, but if there’s another idea… Just getting started on the project, but excited about the possibilities. Thanks!

Has anyone taken the LEED Green Associate exam? Please share your exam experience.

“I learned the ropes in the field prior to Licensure; I started at an ornamental tree farm then became manager and head of landscapeoperations, then lead designer, then partner in a design build firm, all the while not fulfilled in my carrer thinking that I took the wrong path by not stepping straight into a design firm. It wasnt until I joined a…[Read more]

Baskar – Could you go into more detail with your comments…

I also went to design Build after graduation. I feel that if you understand the installation from the hands on construction aspect, it will make you a better designer and allow you to push boundries because you really understand them.

Contractors can be allies or enemies and it will affect the project on some level. I have found that working in…[Read more]

natural topography( wild grasses area or growing naturally ) can take as landscaped area? or it should be neatly landscaped ( dry or xeroxscping_) area? for site selection ?.

I also got this information from GBCI: If you area a LEED AP and you choose a specialty – there is no harm in keeping your enrollment and that if you do not report any continuing education hours at the end of the 2 years your LEED AP with Specialty credential will expire, however you will remain a LEED AP without specialty.

FYI: LEED Credentialing Maintenance Program (CMP) – read last sentence!!

Enrollment Options: LEED APs without specialty will be provided with an enrollment window, a 2-year period between fall 2009 and fall 2011. LEED APs without specialty can view their enrollment window through My Credentials at http://www.gbci.org. The last enrollment windows close…[Read more]

Great conversation and thoughts everybody.

For me I went straight to a design/build after graduation but that is because I wanted to go that direction. I also spent 3 summers in the field doing the labor prior to graduation. No experience with a design only firm.

Correct me if I’m wrong but in most cases I design only firm doesn’t begin to deal…[Read more]

Its the pathogens. Greywater is almost as bad as sewer water. Getting people sick in the name of LEED does not seem to be the way to go.

Tim, Jay, and others –

Just found this group, and am happy to see it exists. I am actually one of the Masters students you spoke about who is lacking direct landscape construction experience. I agree wholeheartedly with the comments, and see this as a huge problem. Do you have any suggestions on the best methods for acquiring this experience?…[Read more]

Potentially greywater could be treated in a bioswale or series of detention ponds, but in California, this system is impossible to permit (Does anyone know of any States who allow this?). However, you can treat stormwater in that method.

how about grey water treating with wetlands/ aerobic system? there is need for open bond rite? instead using in sewage water treatment along with chemicals?

There are strict standards for greywater irrigation – it should not come in contact with people – therefore it is subsurface and also its application is dependent on soil percolation rate, meaning it should not pond to the surface. Not to say with all the rules it is not possible. More potable water is used irrigating landscapes than for basic…[Read more]