draft

1. Silver Certification
Photo credit: Richter Architects

2. • Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands
• 4,000 ft elevation
• Average Annual Precipitation: 9.38 in

3. • 24 hour port facility in
Southern NM
• In 2018, 277,000
Pedestrian crossings and
353,000 vehicle crossings
(private and commercial)
• Area: 28.65 acres (16.8
previously undeveloped
grassland)
• Client: US General Services
Administration
• Construction Completion:
2019
Circulation Diagram

4. Client
• SITES Gold – per GSA
Facilities Standards update
2014 (occurred at 30%
design submittal)
• White House Pollinator
Health Task Force 2015
Project
• On-site stormwater
management
• Native plant revegetation
• Water and energy
conservation

5. • Start SITES process as early as
possible
• Make Checklists
• Hold regular team
communication
• Over communicate, get
everything in writing
• Keep track of which credits are
possible/impossible given
project constraints
• Read credit requirements very
carefully. . . And then reread
• Leverage LEED credit
synergies, documentation

6. Interdisciplinary collaboration
on site design to maximize on-
site stormwater management
and support vegetation
P2.1, P3.1, P3.2, C3.3, C3.4,
C3.5
We had to do this to address
flooding issues, but it resulted
in many points!
Photo credit: Robert Reck

7. Diagram showing
proximity of
stormwater features
to high-traffic areas
of the site

8. Interpretive signage
explaining visible
stormwater features

11. Site-specific soil and
vegetation restoration
• Do your research
• Soil pH of 8.5 is not
uncommon for Chihuahuan
Desert Grasslands
• Select species that match
the site soils and exposure
as closely as possible
P4.1, P4.2, P4.3, C4.6, C4.8
Photo credit: Robert Reck

13. Create a sense of place,
but also human comfort
• Reflect local ecology and
landscape (vegetation,
views, land forms)
• Reduce heat
C4.9, C6.6, C6.10, C8.6

14. • 2.5 million gallons of
stormwater directed to
landscape annually (reduction in
irrigation use)
• Initial irrigation requirement
76% below WaterSense
baseline, post-establishment
irrigation 97% below baseline
• Roughly 12.5 acres of restored
grassland
• 100% of paving and roof
materials high SRI
• Over 1 acre of pavement shaded
by trees and shade structures

15. • A mandate to stick to
landscape best practices
through design and
construction
• The process was educational
for the design team and
Owner
• Native restoration vs.
ornamental landscape =
reduced maintenance costs
• Complimented LEED (Platinum)
and AIA COTE Top Ten Award
Photo credit: Robert Reck