Sustainable Campus Stormwater and Landscape Ecology Plan
1. Sustainable Campus Stormwater and Landscape Ecology Plan
In 2014, The MIT Office of Sustainability (MITOS) created campus
sustainability working groups charged with identifying challenges and
recommending solutions in four areas of focus: Stormwater and
Landscape Management (SWL); Materials Management; Sustainable
Design, Construction, and Renovation; and Green Labs.
The call for a Sustainable Campus Stormwater and Landscape Ecology
Plan was an outcome of the SWL Working Group’s first year of
investigation. The Office of Campus Planning (OCP) will manage the next
effort: development of the Plan.
Brian Goldberg, Todd Robinson, Laura Tenny
Abstract
• Foster the resilience of our land and water systems in a changing New
England Environment
• Enhance water quality of the Charles River Watershed
• Plan comprehensively for a renewed campus commons that supports the
health and well-being of the MIT community and other living systems
• Develop systems and practices in the built environment that mimic the
natural hydrological cycle, build healthy soils, and support biodiversity
Guiding Principles
2. Sustainable Campus Stormwater and Landscape Ecology Plan
Brian Goldberg, Todd Robinson, Laura Tenny
Campus Context – Stormwater Hydrology
• Phosphorus is the main pollutant of
stormwater in the Northeast US
• Limiting available nutrients in aquatic
systems is required to keep surface and
drinking water clean and safe
• Phosphorous causes algae blooms
• After bloom, aging blue green algal cells can
exude toxins - all detrimental to wildlife and
humans, plus a decrease in O2
Water Cycle and Water Quality
• The MIT campus was developed on filled tidelands
• Now sits in a dense urban area in the Charles River watershed
• Stormwater flows across the MIT campus to the Charles
3. Sustainable Campus Stormwater and Landscape Ecology Plan
Brian Goldberg, Todd Robinson, Laura Tenny
Building
Footprint
(71 Acres)
42%Paved
Surfaces
(37 Acres)
22%
Vegetated Areas
(61 Acres)
36%
Percentage of Paved Surfaces
Stormwater Runoff
• Carries pollution, phosphorous, suspended
solids, pathogens into the Charles and
Boston Harbor
Urban Heat Island Effect
• Contributes to global warming and local
discomfort
• Increases building cooling loads
• Impacts plant and animal habitats
Flooding
• Impacts MIT buildings, stormwater
conveyance systems, pavements, and
landscapes during severe rainfall. Many
building systems @ basement level.
Impacts from Paved & Impermeable Surfaces
As the watershed area becomes more paved, natural cycles are interrupted.
This harms water quality by accelerating water movement over the ground,
causing an accumulation and concentration of pollutant loads into
waterways, and lessens water available to recharge groundwater.
Pre-Development
Post-Development
4. Sustainable Campus Stormwater and Landscape Ecology Plan
Brian Goldberg, Todd Robinson, Laura Tenny
Existing Stormwater Projects at MIT
You can’t always see them, but stormwater management solutions have
been incorporated into the MIT campus on a project-by-project basis.
The Plan will provide a holistic approach for addressing stormwater
quantity and quality issues across the entire campus.
Red dots indicate stormwater projects on campus.
1. Sloan School E53/E62
2. Brain and Cognitive Sciences 46/48
3. N16 Boiler 9
4. CUP Chiller 9/10 Cooling Tower 10 N16
5. Ashdown House NW35
6. Stata Center 32
7. Jack Berry Field, Steinbrenner Field
8. Koch Child Care W64
9. Simmons Hall W79
10. Grounds W56 /W57
11. Koch Institute 76
12. Media Laboratory E14
13. Muckley Building (Old Hayward Garage) E40
14. 450 Mass Ave MITIMICO
15. 730 Main MITIMCO
Stata Swale
E60 Greenroof
Steinbrenner
5. Sustainable Campus Stormwater and Landscape Ecology Plan
Brian Goldberg, Todd Robinson, Laura Tenny
The Deliverables
Phase 1: Analysis and Framework:
• Data Collection & Analysis
• Establish Baselines
• Set Metric and Goals
• Define Performance Standards
• Create a “toolbox” of strategies
Phase 1 Deliverable: Report of
baseline conditions (current and
projected), metrics, and
performance goals for MIT’s
campus. Present options for scoping
the Plan.
Phase 2: Develop a Campus Plan
Phase 2 Deliverable: Final Report &
Plan with campus-wide strategies.
The Plan
The Plan will provide a framework to aid campus development by identifying
opportunities, constraints, strategies, and potential locations, while addressing
current and anticipated future strengthening stormwater regulations.
The Team
