Low Impact Development Design Competition

Houston Land/Water Sustainability Forum

The Steering CommitteeThose with a ‘Vested Interest’
US GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL-HOUSTON AREA CHAPTER
INTERNATIONAL EROSION CONTROL ASSOCIATION-SOUTH CENTRAL CHAPTER
ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF AMERICA-HOUSTON CHAPTER
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS-HOUSTON
HOUSTON COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS-HOUSTON
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS-HOUSTON/GULF COAST
TEXAS COASTAL WATERSHED PROGRAM
CITY OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS &
ENGINEERING
CITY OF HOUSTON MAYOR’S OFFICE
HOUSTON-GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL
HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE DIVISION
HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT
BAYOU PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION
ENERGY CORRIDOR DISTRICT
GREATER HOUSTON BUILDERS ASSOCIATION
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

A Common Understanding
Costs of traditional development are soaring
Developing ‘the way we’ve always done it’ is more and more counterproductive
Costs of keeping pace with results of traditional development becoming major problem
Change is inevitable
Leadership role is better than the alternative

“OUR MISSION IS TO ENHANCE, ENABLE AND INTEGRATE SUSTAINABLE USE OF LAND AND WATER FOR THE HOUSTON AREA'S CONTINUED GROWTH AND ECONOMIC VITALITY."

Goal
Drive the widespread adoption, adaptation and implementation of sustainable development practices
Low Impact Development (LID)
●
Green Infrastructure

Hydrology as the organizing principal
Disconnect
Increase Time of Concentration
Infiltrate
Reduce runoff
Mimic natural cycle
Clean storm water passively
Treat, infiltrate or use it on site

Micro-scale, decentralized water management
180° shift from centralized approach
Water management in the landscape
Rain gardens (bioretention cell), bioiswales, bio-filtration, etc. (unlimited IMPs)

A Gap that Needed to be Filled
Gaps between disciplines
Integrated design teams limited
Gaps in education
Focus on our soils, climate, topography
Focus on ‘nuts & bolts’
Practical application rather than the theoretical
Driven by ‘enlightened self-interest’
Inherent staying power

HLWSF Founded 2007
‘True test’ of the Steering Committee
Programming on sustainable development
‘Levelers’
Workshops
Local Case Histories
Program facilities inevitably filled to capacity
100 to 400 seat rooms
Education is good, but ‘hands on’ is better
Getting to the next level

Making it Count
Require integrated design teams
Use real properties with challenging conditions
Allows reusable design and viable LID adaptations
Require cost comparison of LID to Traditional design
Provides viable numbers for value comparison
Use key ‘Drivers’ for Judges and Jury Panel
Educate key market players as part of the process

Property Donors

Competition Property Donors

Prize Donors

Competition Prize Donors

All the Key Players

Competition Underwriters
Terry Hershey

Driving Participation
Use constituent groups’ drawing power
High-dollar cash prizes
Design Challenges that generate greatest interest
Properties with owners who want LID
Name-value stage one Judges
Name-value finals Jury, predominantly developers
Fast-paced, high-profile finals event, upscale location

Expert JudgesStage One

Participant Demographics
22 submitting teams
9 Green Roadway
4 Urban Redevelopment
9 Suburban Residential
230 design professionals
Architects, Civil Engineers, Landscape Architects, Hydrologists, Urban Planners, Construction Consultants, Homebuilders, Environmentalists, Transportation Engineers, Irrigation Consultants
42 firms (TX, IL, NC, GA, CO, CA, KS)

Finals Event
Presentation boards from all entries displayed
Experienced emcee team
Networking time designed in to proceedings
Finalists limited to 7 minute ‘lightning’ presentation
Highly orchestrated, quickly paced

Finals Jury Panel

Green RoadwayIndependence Parkway
The challenge is to design a new ‘green’ roadway section that incorporates Low Impact Development techniques, reduces runoff, reduces storm water pollution through bio-filtration or other means, and reduces long term maintenance costs.

Urban RedevelopmentBastrop Promenade
The proposed urban redevelopment, Bastrop Promenade, is located adjacent to a proposed professional soccer stadium. It is conceived to be a 24/7 six-block pedestrian promenade developed between the stadium and a proposed Sister City Garden at the end opposite the stadium.

Suburban ResidentialVentana Lakes
The concept for this site is to develop a residential neighborhood with the look and feel of a master planned community, using Low Impact Development to improve storm water management, water quality and quality of life, and lower development costs.

Counterintuitive Outcome?
Mimicking nature really works
Dramatic Water Quality improvements
Impressive reductions in runoff
Incredible cost savings when compared to traditional development methods
‘Old school’ civil firms proselytize ‘green infrastructure’
Results consistent across all categories and submittals

The Winning Designs
Simple
●
Effective
●
Can be permitted now
with minimal variances

Notable Comments
‘We were surprised when we got the hydrology modeling, but when we saw the economics we were stunned. I called my guys in last Friday and told them that we’re pitching our new projects this way.’ Principal, one of Houston’s most prominent ‘old school’ Civil Engineering firms

Notable Comments
‘I was one of the finalist judges down there, and it ranks among the most exhilarating experiences of my 31-year career at EPA....I truly think that if we could replicate this event in every state, we could revolutionize development in this country….The most exciting part was that so many people involved had no background in LID prior and came out the other end believers and even proselytizers. Truly remarkable.’ Dov Weitman, Chief, Nonpoint Source Control Branch, EPA

Houston Land/Water Sustainability Forum
www.houstonLWSforum.org

Low Impact Development Design Competition

by Sean Merrell on Jul 15, 2010

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Low Impact Development Design Competition — Presentation Transcript