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S E N I O R P R O J E C T WR I T E U P

COMMUN I T Y , ENV I R ONMEN T , & P L ANN I N G 2 0 1 9

UN I V E R S I T Y O F WASH I N G TON

G R A C E A R S E N A U L T

REIMAGINING

STORMWATER

INFRASTRUCTURE

ON CAMPUS

With a campus of over seven hundred acres that borders twoenvironmentally sensitive waterways, managing stormwater runoff is animportant task for the University of Washington. Currently, the Universitymeets the standards of stormwater management for new developmentdictated by local, state, and federal agencies, but incorporates very few ofthe latest and most environmentally sustainable methods of stormwatermanagement. Moreover, the proposed Campus Master Plan, whichemphasizes the creation of a more environmentally conscious campus,includes very little in the way of revising and retrofitting existing structuresto better manage stormwater on campus. To begin addressing this gap, Ihave created a retrofit plan that incorporates modern methods ofstormwater management based on an existing site on campus. My planfocuses on a single demonstration site, a redesign of the courtyardbetween Raitt Hall and Savery Hall adjacent to the central Quad. Theproposal incorporates easily implemented infrastructure such as bioswalesand permeable pavement to create a space that is both functional for itsusers and acts as a stormwater management site on campus. I chose thissite to show how similar methods could be easily transferred to other partsof campus. By creating this design plan, I also demonstrate how theUniversity of Washington could retrofit its existing structures so that theyexceed local standards and become an example for other campuseslooking to enhance their own stormwater management systems.

ABSTRACT

202ARSENAULT COMMUNITY, ENVIRONMENT, & PLANNING

TABLE OF

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

LITERATURE REVIEW

METHODOLOGY

FINAL PRODUCT

REFLECTION

CITATIONS

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L IST OF

FIGURES

MAP OF CAMPUS

SITE MAP

TERRACED BIOSWALE

STAIRWAY

WATER RETENTION

BASINS

LARGE PERSPECTIVE

SKETCH

THUMBNAIL SKETCHES

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2

3

4

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I have a background in environmental sciences,having been a student in the Program on theEnvironment with the intention of graduating withmy BA in Environmental Studies program before Ifound my way to CEP. Similar to CEP, theEnvironmental Studies program is highlycustomizable, which allowed me to take a varietyof environmental courses. This led me to take adifferent courses about water resourcemanagement from biological, infrastructure andhuman usage perspectives. One of the recurringsubjects was Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO), astormwater infrastructure problem that the City ofSeattle has encountered in the last three decades.Two thirds of the city of Seattle was built on astormwater infrastructure system that combinesall wastewater (household waste as well as streetrunoff) into one system and sends it to atreatment facility. When properly functioning, thissystem takes care of stormwater runoff from thestreets, that in separated systems would godirectly into our watershed as it does in the otherthird of Seattle. But during heavy rains, the limitedcapacity of the storm system allows overflowsdirectly into the region's waterways. Theseoverflows include waste from our showers, sinks,and toilets. I first encountered this problem fromthe perspective of a biologist: the toxic pollutionresulting from combined sewer overflowsnegatively affect the ecosystem in the sensitiveareas around Seattle.

The subject later reappeared but this time it was framed as a public health issue: fecal matter isgetting into our waterways and making themhazardous for people that use them. I laterencountered this subject again when applying fora community engagement intern position for theRainWise program. This time it was framed as anissue of urban planning: through a three-prongedapproach the City of Seattle and King Countywere trying to implement a system of wastewaterdiversions to reduce or completely eliminate theCSO problem all together.

As the Intern for the RainWise program I havelearned about the extent of the CSO problem aswell as other stormwater runoff problemsafflicting Seattle, the Region, and many placesacross the country and world. My education inenvironmental studies taught me the hazards ofrunoff, but my education in urban planning hasinformed how I would propose a solution. Mysenior project is the culmination of mymultidisciplinary education at the University ofWashington, and the beginning of a careerfocused on urban planning as a tool forstormwater runoff intervention.

INTRODUCTION


THE STORMWATER PROBLEM

My senior project is a proposal for how urbandesigners may use infrastructure and low-impactdevelopment to better adapt our builtenvironment to suit the climate in which it exists.As a result of development, we have expandedareas covered by cement and asphalt, which hascompletely altered the natural hydrologicalfunctions of the areas we inhabit. Thoughrestoring the ecosystem to its pre-developmentstate may be impossible, there is room forimprovement in the built environment to restoresome of the functions of the natural environment.In Seattle, and on the campus of the University ofWashington, we have the opportunity toreestablish the natural functions of theecosystem, through green stormwaterinfrastructure interventions. The followingliterature review includes descriptions andanalyses of conventional, and newer methods ofstormwater management to address theproblems affecting our environment. To situate the problem in the global trends ofclimate change I’ve studied the specific impactsof climate change in our already damp climate ofthe Pacific Northwest. Trends in climate changeshow an increase in precipitation in the form ofmore severe storm events across the PacificNorthwest (Mauger 2018). For the highlydeveloped City of Seattle this will result in morestress put on our combined sewer system. Whenwater inundates the City and exceeds the

capacity of the sewer system, the excess water islet out into neighboring waterways, this is called aCombined Sewer Overflow. Pollutants oftenwashed out with CSOs are: solids, biodegradableorganic matter, nutrients, faecal bacteria, and mayalso include chemicals and heavy metals (JiriMarsalek 2008, 49). These chemicals and heavymetals may be harmful to the ecological systemsin these bodies of water. CSOs may also haveeutrophic effects on surrounding waters; thespilling of sewage increases the amount ofnutrients in the water, creating a more productiveenvironment for algae to grow. The laterdecomposition of algae uses up the oxygen in thewater creating areas where fish and other aquaticspecies cannot live, also called dead zones (Khan2014, 1).

POLICY CONTEXT

The City of Seattle, in collaboration with othergovernmental agencies, has proposed a goal tomanage 400 million gallons of runoff using greenstormwater infrastructure by the year 2020, and700 million gallons by 2025 (Seattle Public Utilities2015). The city has different incentive programscoupled with revised building codes to meet thisgoal, like stormwater codes requiring newstructures to incorporate green infrastructure intosite plans. The Alaskan Way project, for example,will implement roadside bioretention to filter anddelay runoff before it is discharged into the Sound(Seattle Public Utilities 2015).

LITERATURE REVIEW


New developments have requirements to lowertheir impact on the stormwater problem, butretrofitting requirements are a bit more voluntary.The RainWise program is funded by the City andgives rebates to homeowners, and communitymembers to manage the roof runoff on site usingstormwater retrofits. Since the program’sbeginnings in 2011, RainWise has establishedcoverage of 2.16 million square feet of roofs. Thisis equivalent to the amount of stormwater thatcan be managed by 50 acres of undevelopedland (Sullivan 2018). The success of the RainWiseprogram shows the potential for other retrofitprograms, potentially on publicly-owned(Jonathan L. Page 2015) buildings, like those foundon the University of Washington Campus. Currently, the University of Washington abides byfederal requirement by the National PollutantDischarge Elimination (NPDES), dictated by theEPA, as well as the Stormwater ManagementProgram (SWMP), an extension of the NPDES(University of Washington 2016). The SWMPrequires minimum measures of implementationthat include public involvement and education,detection and elimination of point sourcepollutants, construction and post-constructionrunoff control, as well as everyday runoffmaintenance. Additionally, the Seattle campus, aswell as the Bothell and Tacoma campuses, arecertified Salmon-Safe (Halberg 2016).Thecertification requires the University to rethink landmanagement practices like reduction of fertilizerusage, and water use management. The UrbanStandards for the Salmon-Safe programnecessitate that the land owner minimize theamount and improve the quality of runoff beforedischarged (Herrera Environmental Consultants,Inc. 2018).

The final Environmental Impact Statement for theUW Campus Master Plan shows a 2% increase inthe number of permeable surfaces with furthercampus development (University of Washington2017). This minimal increase likely won’tcontribute to exceeding the capacity of currentstormwater infrastructure. Additionally, any newdevelopment will be subject to the newstormwater code (Seattle Public Utilities 2015).

Because of these factors, improvements of theUniversity’s stormwater management will come,not from new gray infrastructure, but instead fromretrofits to existing infrastructure and sites. SOURCE REDUCTION AND CONTROL

Conventional methods of stormwatermanagement often put into use water detentionfacilities with high capacity to collect runoffduring large storm events, these are called arecalled structural management practices (NationalResearch Council 2009). Often these are used toaccommodate peak volumes and may also serveas filtration systems. After a large precipitationevent, water is slowly released from the detentionfacility back into the storm system, to beprocessed (Pazwash 2016, 375). Whereasstructural storm management systems delay andreduce the intensity of the inflow, new efforts arebeing made to divert runoff from the stormsystem completely through source reduction.Such practices aim to reduce the amount of waterrunoff from a surface by reducing the size ofimpermeable surfaces, or making surfaces morepermeable (Pazwash 2016, 479). According to Pazwash in the Second Edition ofUrban Storm Water Management, compared tostructural methods of stormwater management,source reduction had better results in the areas ofeffectiveness of filtration, cost, reduced need ofwater quality devices, and prevention of damage(2016, 481). Due to the nature of structuralmanagement infrastructure, water leaves thesystem without removal of pollutants includingsalt, phosphorus, and metals. Source reductionoften has natural filtration built in, making themethod a viable form of filtration. When used incombination with structural management, sourcecontrol may reduce the costs of water detentionbecause some of it may be diverted from thesystem completely by the source control method.For example, the employment of a green roof assource control may collect some of the water thatfalls on its surface and therefore reduce theamount of runoff that a detention pond, astructural stormwater management tool, mustcapture and process.


Alternatively, the use of a combination of sourcecontrol methods may completely eliminate theneed for water control devices. Lastly, theemployment of source reduction methods ofstormwater management makes systems moreresilient to flooding and large storm eventsespecially when a diverse system of managementmethods is employed to work in concert. Currently, gray infrastructure- pipes, pumps,ditches, and detention ponds, are used to managestormwater; new techniques of stormwatermanagement are moving us away from grayinfrastructure, toward green infrastructure. Greeninfrastructure incorporates a system ofinfrastructure improvements that promote naturalfunctions like infiltration, and evaporation tomanage stormwater (USGS n.d.). Due to theinfeasibility of rebuilding our current grayinfrastructure sewer system, the implementationof green infrastructure in Seattle is paramount toestablishing a more sustainable stormwatersystem. When our combined system isoverloaded during storm events, greeninfrastructure can take some of the stress off ofthe system through delay or total diversion fromthe conventional system (Foster 2011).Additionally, the use of green infrastructuretechniques in the place of traditional methodsprovide major upfront cost savings, as well aslong term financial and non-monetary benefits—like improved water quality and hydrologicsystem recharge (Foster 2011). A proposed alternative to mitigate or reduceCSOs is the use of retention centers whichtemporarily store water during large storm eventsand delay entry into the sewer system. Manymunicipalities created such retention pondsinitially intended for intermittent use only duringlarge storm events. The Retention ponds functionhas turned into longer-term settling ponds thatact as the first step of water purification. InImpediments and Solutions to Sustainable,Watershed-Scale Urban StormwaterManagement the authors assess the use ofretention ponds to be less effective thanmanagement of stormwater at the site usingpermeation into the ground (Allison H. Roy 2008).

Ideally, if a site were being built from the ground-up, the creation of interconnected greeninfrastructure would predate the creation of ‘grayinfrastructure’. Essentially, planners would ensurea web-like system of green infrastructure wouldbe created, similar that of telecommunications orroad systems. Since Seattle, and by extension UWis already highly developed, planners need torethink the way that green space is incorporatedinto everyday street design. Benedict andMcMahon advise incorporating hubs ofbiodiversity with connected pathways to enhancethe wellbeing of each of the sites and increasetheir natural functions thus increase the overalleffectiveness (Mark A. Benedict 2006). Such planscan be imagined in the form of bioswales alongroadways and the incorporation of green roofs inplace of impermeable roofs. SITE APPROPRIATE INTERVENTION: POROUS PAVEMENTS“A porous pavement is one with porosity andpermeability high enough to significantlyinfluence hydrology, rooting habitat, and otherenvironmental effects,” (Ferguson 2005, 1). Densepavement is completely impervious, and acts as acollection pan for pollutants and toxins. Whenprecipitation occurs, pollution is washed off thesurface and is carried to the storm drain system,or to a holding tank. Porous pavementsencourage precipitation to be absorbed- pullingpollutants through the filtering materials belowthe surface. This reduces the runoff from the area,which decreases the amount of pollutants carrieddownstream (Ferguson 2005). Variations in thematerials used to create the porous surface mayprovide varying results. Porous pavements arealso beneficial for supporting tree rooting,reducing the “heat island’ effect, increasedecosystem connectivity, and increased safety-due to better drainage reducing the amount ofstanding water on a surface (Ferguson 2005, 20,24).


SITE APPROPRIATE INTERVENTION: TREES AS STORMWATER MANAGEMENTThe presence of a healthy urban forest is linked toreduced amounts of stormwater runoff in ourcities because of natural qualities possessed bytrees. There are at least three ways in which treesreduce runoff: canopy interception, transpiration,and improved infiltration (Adam Berlanda 2017). Canopy interception is measured by thesubtracting the amount of water that flows downthe stem of the tree (stemflow) and water thatbypasses the canopy (throughfall), from the grossprecipitation falling on the tree. The tree speciesthat composes the urban forest is a largedeterminant of the amount of canopy interception(Adam Berlanda 2017). A study performed in DavisCalifornia examined which trees have the highestcanopy interception found that coniferous treeshave the highest capacity to hold onto rainfall (Q.Xiao 2016). Second best was broadleafevergreens, because the longer that a treemaintains its leaves, especially during rainyseasons, the more canopy interception wouldoccur (J. C. Clapp 2014). While an urban forest can be useful for thepurposes of flood control, canopies tend to reacha saturation point during large storm event,making them less useful for reducing stormwaterrunoff in the event of heavy precipitation. Even so,lower volume rainstorms are responsible for mostof the pollution runoff, so for this reason canopyinterception can help more with water qualitythan with the reduction of flooding (Q. Xiao 2016). Transpiration is the function in which water that istaken from the soil is evaporated from the leavesof the tree. Transpiration also includes the volumeof water evaporated from other landscapesurfaces and is an important part of thehydrologic cycle (USGS n.d.). Exact rates oftranspiration are difficult to measure;meteorological conditions, soil moisture, albedo,spatial heterogeneity, and makeup of thevegetation, among other factors, have varyingeffects on transpiration rate. Generally, broadleaftrees are more effective at transpiration thanconifers, but due to their varying peaktranspiration seasons a combination of conifers,as well as broadleaf tree species allows for year-round water transpiration (Adam Berlanda 2017).

Filtration rates of an area are improved by theintroduction of trees into a system. Additionally,the presence of trees increases the organicmatter, and therefore biological activity in the soil. Tree roots may also provide physicalmacrostructures that smaller plants are unable toprovide. While decreasing the amount of erosioncaused by runoff, tree roots also facilitateinfiltration by providing direct channels throughwhich water may flow. All of these processes arebest facilitated when trees are planted in aconcave planter, so that water stays in thegeneral area of the tree’s base. Often trees areplanted in mound structures which allow forwater to flow away from the base of the tree(facilitating runoff) and eroding away the soil at itsbase. This contributes to unhealthy soils as well astree root exposure. Soils are often compacted so that they cansupport the structures built on them (Jonathan L.Page 2015). This compaction of soil reduces thesuccess of tree growth in those areas becauserepeated compaction disrupts tree roots. Treeswith reduced root capacity tend to grow slowerand therefore have reduced transpiration, canopyinterception, and infiltration capabilities (AdamBerlanda 2017). Creating a suspended pavementallows for healthy tree growth in our builtenvironment (Jonathan L. Page 2015). One methodto improve soil structure and reduce compactionis the use of a tree cell (commonly the SilvaCell), amodular structure composed of glass, plastic, andsteel reinforcements that sits below ground. In a study of the use of such structures performedin Wilmington, North Carolina, the SilvaCell unitallowed for water infiltration in an uncompactedsoil engineered for the purposes of infiltration. Inaddition to the reduction of runoff, the root-soilmatrix provided extra filtration of pollutants in thearea. A conveyance pipe connected to the stormsystem was placed in the matrix as a diversionstrategy to reduce the chance of flooding duringlarge storm events. The use of the SilvaCellprovided 80% capture of runoff in the specificareas where implemented. (Jonathan L. Page2015)


RESEARCH: GSI METHODSI began my research with a certain level ofunderstanding of green stormwater infrastructure,and various methods of implementation. Myresearch focused more on how these techniquesworked individually than in concert with oneanother. This involved gathering case studies ofsites that seem to use GSI methods effectively tonot only reduce the amount of stormwater runoff,but also to create inviting, and useful spaces forthe public. The gaps in my knowledge tended tobe the more technical side of GSI planning,focusing on civil engineering aspects. I citedifferent manuals on pervious pavements, andhydrology manuals in my literature revue asevidence of the technical work that goes into siteplanning for stormwater management. PLACE CRITERIAFirst, I developed criteria for choosing a site (1) itneeded to be an outdoor space, (2) it needed tobe covered by mostly impermeable surfaces, (3) itneeded to be highly trafficked, and (4) it neededto be or have the potential to be a place whereusers wanted to dwell, and enjoy the space. Thereasoning behind the first criteria, is obvious, Ineeded a space that was actually going to dealwith precipitation, as long as the site is outdoors,this wouldn’t be a problem.

METHODOLOGY

My second criteria was based in the idea that Iwanted to improve some aspect of the site, ifwere already covered in permeablesurfaces then I wouldn’t have much to fix. Next, Iwanted to create a site for people to use, not onlywould this heighten recognition of the stormwaterpollution problem if the plan was implemented,but I also wanted to create the design with thesite’s users in mind. In later stages I study exactlyhow people use the space, so high volumes arenecessary to influence the design. Lastly, Iwanted to create a space where people mightactually want to sit down and enjoy theatmosphere. The University of Washingtoncampus lacks outdoor areas where people areable to sit and hang out; I could create a spacethat addresses stormwater problem and create aspace that is user friendly during dryer months. Tosatisfy the criteria, the chosen site will have apleasant atmosphere- not too loud, with plenty ofnatural light, and be large enough toaccommodate sitting areas as well as pathways.


EXPLORING CAMPUS After developing the criteria, I went on a campustour- though I’ve attended classes on all sides ofthe campus in my time here, I walked aroundcampus with a new perspective. Some of the sitesthat were interesting to me and satisfied some ofthe criteria are labelled in figure 1: Hutchinson Hall(1), the lawn on the back side of the musicdepartment (2), the courtyard between Saveryand Raitt Hall on the quad (3), Parrington Hall (4),as well as the ‘moat’ outside of Gould hall (5). Ifinally decided on the courtyard between Saveryand Raitt hall because it, more than any of theother locations, satisfied all of the criteria. (figure 2)

OBSERVATIONSNext, I moved into an observation portion of myproject. This phase of my project involvedstudying movement in the space: both human andhydrological. I visited the space on a few differentdays to do so; the first time was an informal visiton an overcast afternoon. I took photos of thespace and who was using it, as well as studiedhow they travelled throughout the space. Twowomen stood and spoke for the entirety of myvisit in the central path of the courtyard. Othersjust strolled through the courtyard, with directionbut at a moderate speed. My observations beganjust after 2:30, when most people in the area werein class. My next visit was in the late morning of a rainyday; though it was not raining when I got there,water was still sitting on top of the brick paving.During this observation time, people were sparse,and never lingered. This is also when I noticedthat most of the people who used the courtyardwere passing through the space, and not comingout of the neighboring two buildings, Raitt Hall orSavery Hall.The third visit was a sunny morning; itwas this time that I sat down and counted theamount of people that passed through thecourtyard and the path that they took. In the timebetween 10:55-11:00 AM I counted 41 peoplepassing through the courtyard, and two peoplewho sat down on the benches.

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FIGURE 1: MAP OF CAMPUS WITH POTENTIAL LOCATIONS(UW CREATIVE COMMUNICATIONS)

FIGURE 2: MAP OF SITE (KING COUNTY GIS)

ARSENAULT COMMUNITY, ENVIRONMENT, & PLANNING

One person left Raitt Hall and passed through thecourtyard, and two people entered the buildingthrough the courtyard. Most people moved alongthe path between Denny Yard and the Quad, orbetween the corner path that leads closer toPaccar Hall and the Quad. During this observationperiod I noticed that passersby tended to takeawkward paths between the benches, and thetree plantings. Additionally, I believe that due tothe amount of people coming from, or headingtowards, Paccar Hall on the northeastern side ofthe courtyard, the eastern side of the courtyardwas used much more heavily than the west side. INSPIRATION ON CAMPUSThe intent of exploring campus was to find aspace that I could reinvent using greenstormwater design techniques but along the way Iactually found some places on campus that werealready using such techniques. Municipal StormCode in Seattle requires any new building havesome variety of stormwater management on site;following those requirements, greeninfrastructure can be seen in a lot of the newerbuildings on campus. These sites have inspiredearly designs of my space. TERRACED BIOSWALE STAIRWAYBetween Maple and Terry Hall, on west campus,there is a courtyard with chairs and tables, andbenches. This courtyard acts as a transitionbetween street levels on the north and southsides of the building (the north side being about afloor higher than south). This transition isconnected by a set of stairs, which is the sourceof my inspiration: along with their most basic purposes, these stairs also act as a terracedbioswale (figure 3). On either side of the stepsthere are large terrace-style planter boxes thathave the ability to capture rain. I took this idea ofterraced bioswales incorporated into steps andhave expanded upon it and integrated it into myown design.

WATER RETENTION BASINSAlongside the new Burke Museum and theneighboring School of Law, there are two sets ofplanted water detention terraces Figure 4. Theyare similar to the Maple/Terry terraced bioswalestairs example in concept but function quitedifferently: these installations are much wider andcould perceivably hold much more water. Madeup of five holding sections, water fills up the topbasin, and what does not get infiltrated spills overinto the next basin, and so on. Water from theroofs of neighboring buildings is pumped into thetop basin to begin the process of infiltration.

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FIGURE 4: WATER RETENTION BASINS

FIGURE 3: TERRACED BIOSWALE STAIRWAY


DESIGN PROCESS I began imagining how all of my research- visualresearch of other stormwater conscious design,observations on campus, observations of mychosen space, as well as GSI methods, wouldbegin to come together as a functional system inmy own designs. Narrowing down three GSIinterventions: tree cells, bioswales, andpermeable pavers, allowed me to beginexperimenting with the integration of eachsystem. Though eventually I would translatethese designs into a graphic program- SketchUpand Illustrator, I began my design process with apencil and paper. Beginning with the mostfundamental drafting allowed for quickdevelopment of ideas in any place. Having abackground in drawing urban forms, I was able totake my sketchbook and ruler out to my site andget a feel for what my redesign would feel like ifimplemented. I began by drawing small thumbnail sketches ofideas including stairway sections, bioswaleplantings, and tree placement (figure 5). As Ideveloped the basic structure of the perspectivedrawing (figure 6), I began implementing thedetails that I had developed in my thumbnaildesigns. I focused a lot of my time on developingthe perspective drawings- what it would look likeif someone stood at the bottom of the lower levelstairs, looking up to the courtyard, versus sittingon a bench in the southeast corner of thecourtyard. It was while developing theseperspectives that I was able to think aboutplacemaking in my redesign. Was it a comfortableplace to sit- did the seating arrangement makesense with the line of site that the seatingprovided? Was it useable for walking- did the treeplacement obstruct obvious walking patterns?While contemplating these matters I referencedmy previous observations taken earlier in myprocess. I recalled that I saw little to no use of oneof the current walking paths, I translated this tomy design by removing the walking pathaltogether and replacing it with a bioswale andseating area. In my drawing process I alsodeveloped an aerial view and overlaid my walkingpath observations- reflecting on current use ofthe space, and how my redesign could impactfuture use.

Using trace paper, I was able to develop differentaspects of the design separate from one another.On the base layer I laid out the dimensions of thecourtyard itself- where the buildings were placed,and the current parameters. On the first layer oftrace paper I sketched out the hardscape design-the bioswale placement, stairs, benches, etc. Onanother layer I placed the trees, grasses, plants.Another layer, the hydrology of the site- howrainwater might flow outward toward theproposed bioswales, and trees. The final layeradded the human users back into the space-looking at viewsheds, walking paths, and seatingarea. By using various overlays, I was able tomanipulate one aspect at a time, withoutdisturbing others. This technique mimics what Iwould later do in Adobe Illustrator using differentlayers for various design elements.

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FIGURE 6: LARGE PERSPECTIVE SKETCH

FIGURE 5: THUMBNAIL SKETCHES


Next, I translated my drafts into a three-dimensional CAD program, SketchUp. I was ableto recreate the parameters of the space- theproportions of the buildings with the width andlength of the courtyard by importing aerial imagesfrom King County Parcel viewer. This would bethe basis of my graphic work- it was imperativethat I set up an accurate depiction of the currentsite. I used the extruding function of SketchUpthat allows the user to create the three-dimensional models. This provided the elevationdifferences that give this courtyard varying planesto expand my designs. After creating thesedifferent planes, I worked to extrude the stairs andslopes that would connect each of the elevations.From there, I further developed the hardscape-like the bioswales, and tree planters. Due to thebroad use of SketchUp in various designcommunities, there are often premade, open-source models in the Adobe Illustrator 3DWarehouse. I was able to locate a realistic modelof Raitt and Savery Halls, which I scaled to fit mymodel. This was helpful when attempting to makemy model feel more realistic. I decided to takesome extra time to develop the exactmeasurements in SketchUp because after mymodel was complete, I was able to createaccurate perspective views using a two-dimensional design software- Adobe Illustrator.SketchUp, though sometimes finicky in the designstage, provides the viewer with total freedom a360-degree view of the design, once the model iscomplete. Once I found the best view to displaymy model, I used a camera tool to capture theexact perspective- I later uploaded it to Illustrator. With the capture of the perspective view fromSketchUp as my base, I began adding in thedifferent elements of my designs, all organized bylayers. This was a similar process to using thetracing paper in my drafting process- isolatingcategories of elements. While working on theoverall perspective design, the process ofestablishing the bioswales, stairs, tree planterplacement, and seating, required the mostamount of time. This was due to two factors: mydesire to be exact in my angles andmeasurements, as well as my everchanging

desires for the outcome of the space. Once I wascomfortable with the hardscape of the design, Imoved onto finding and creating plant vectors formy bioswales, and trees for my tree planters. Forthis process I found an open source tree vectorimage, and manipulated the size and shape, aswell as made it all one shade- eliminating anydistracting details. Then I created some dimensionby layering the grasses on one another andvarying each layer’s shade of gray. As for creating the separate elements ofinfrastructure, the bioswale, permeable pavers,and tree cells, I relied heavily on my research andprevious experience. To fully demonstrate thelayering method used in the permeable paversystem I decided to visibly separate each layer. Asfor the bioswale graphic I thought it would beuseful to demonstrate the bioswale in action bycreating a ‘section’ of it. Using this methodallowed me to show how the conveyance pipeswould feed the bioswale; I could also show howthe biofiltration soil gives water and nutrients tothe grasses while the infiltration mix percolatesthe water down into the ground. The tree cellgraphic took a bit more effort to create than theother two, due to the angle that I wanted topresent it at. I wanted to show an undergroundview of how the cell actually performs while alsoshowing off the three-dimensional depth of theapparatus. I also wanted to depict the roots of thetrees in concert with the tree cell, as well as howa conveyance pipe might be incorporated.Though these three graphics were createdseparately, I wanted them to have the sametheme throughout. To accomplish this, I created acolor palette, as well as made sure that all threeof the designs used the dame line weight andcolor. Lastly, I labelled each graphic in the samestyle to increase cohesion and understandingbetween each.


My final product is a set of designs that depict thereimagined courtyard. This includes a perspectiveview, alongside three graphics that show thefunctioning parts of the stormwater managementplan: the bioswale, tree cell, and permeablepaver system. The redesign is just one example of how theUniversity of Washington can redesign its existingspaces to incorporate more stormwater friendlydesign in the built environment. While newdevelopment is required to incorporate GreenStormwater Infrastructure on site, there is verylittle being done to revisit the stormwatermanagement of sites that already exist oncampus the goals motivating my decisions is to

FINAL PRODUCT

maintain the character of the space, whiledrastically improving the space’s hydrology. Thetwo buildings on either side of this courtyard areRaitt hall to the east, and Savery to the west; bothwere built in the 1910s in the Collegiate Gothicarchitecture style. Rather than replacing thebricks with a pervious paver (often used in otherpermeable designs), I designed the permeablesurfaces to reuse the existing bricks in the space.Additionally, the courtyard sits next to the quad,an open space that is known for its brickpathways and cherry blossoms. Reusing thebricks in the courtyard creates continuitybetween the quad and neighboring courtyard.


PERMEABLE PAVERSPermeable pavements are typically constructedwith pervious blocks as pavers, which allow waterto pass through various grated reservoirs into theground. The permeable paver system that I havedeveloped, instead reuses impermeable bricksbut replaces the grouting medium with apermeable fine-grained gravel bedding. This willallow water to pass between the bricks and thendown through the layers of gravel to be infiltratedinto the ground. In addition, my design includes aconveyance pipe that will allow water to moveaway from the site during heavy rains. Theseconveyance pipes

will feed into the constructed bioswales wherewater may be further infiltrated or evaporated bythe plantings. The gravel reservoirs, in addition totheir rapid drainage, also provide physicalfiltration capabilities. The use of the permeablesurfaces in my design will eliminate the need fordrains in the courtyard. The permeable surfaceswill also reduce, if not completely get rid of thepuddle problem currently affecting the courtyard.Reducing the amount of standing water duringprecipitation events will make the space moreuser friendly and therefore more inviting.


BIOSWALESThe bioswale that I’ve designed sits on eitherside of the stairway leading to the quad. In thecase of flooding, there are two chambers whichwill allow water to spill over into the lower level.This is modeled from the terraced bioswalesseen on other parts of campus. The bioswalesare fed by the conveyance pipe during heavyrains and will otherwise be watered directly bylighter rains. The bioswales contain abiofiltration mix that promote healthy soilorganisms to filter any pollutants from therunoff. They also contain an infiltration mix witha higher sand and gravel content, whichpromoted the infiltration of the runoff. Planted in

the bioswales are native grasses, like switchgrassand Indian grass. Both species do well inoccasionally saturated soils, as well as in thedryer months. While some watering and lightmaintenance may be necessary for the survival ofthese plants in their first year, the species chosenare hardy and acclimated to our climate. Plantinga variety of grasses in the bioswale will allow formore biodiversity, and therefore create healthiersoils. Additionally, included in my bioswale designis an overflow pipe. Typical in most bioswales andrain gardens, an overflow pipe allows for quickconveyance of water in the case of unusuallyheavy rains. The overflow pipe directs the waterto the nearest storm system.


TREE CELLSThe tree cell is the most discreet part of my GSIplan. Under the brick upper surface and gravelbedding mediums are the structures that allowhealthy root growth. These structures are madeof an especially strong plastic, glass compositematerial and are reinforced steel tubes. They areperforated along the top surface to provide

channels for water to further infiltrate down thevertical structures. These tree cells protect treeroots as they grow and help maintain an evenbrick layer that is more accessible to users. Thetree cell also protects the conveyance pipes thatare placed below ground for the permeablepaver system.


THE STORMWATER PROBLEMWhen I started my project, I was focused on theCombined Sewer Overflow problem that afflictsabout two-thirds of Seattle homes. My experiencewith the stormwater problem, especially in myinternship, is centered around combined sewers.After doing my research and building a strongcase toward working on stormwater infrastructurein combined sewer areas, I was looking intopicking a redesign site. In my research I had alsolooked into the University of Washington’sCampus Master Plan, which showed a lack ofmeasurable effort toward reinstating a naturalecosystem’s hydrologic functions. But when Ifound that the University of Washington is not ona combined sewer system and was in factincluded in the one-third of the city on aseparated system I had to redirect my project.This led me to research further into theimportance of proper runoff mitigation in urbandesign as a tool for creating moreenvironmentally resilient communities. GRAPHIC DESIGN PROGRAMS CAN BEDAUNTINGI found that a large part of my design processfocused on making the graphics that representmy designs. After two quarters of processingdifferent decisions regarding my design, Ihesitated to start on my graphics; it was mucheasier to redo drafts and change elements of mydesign on paper. When I translated my design toSketchUp and later Illustrator, I had to commit toa specific design. Though any line or shapecreated in the design programs could bemanipulated, (everything was arguably lesspermanent than when sketched out)

REFLECTIONthe amount of time spent developing a designmade it much more difficult to abandon and godown a different path. But of course, as I workedwith the programs more, I became moreacclimated to their functions, making adjustmentsmuch easier to make.

GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE IS

EVERYWHERE

Once I really began researching greeninfrastructure methods, I began to notice iteverywhere in the built environment. Conversely, I also couldn’t help noticing when spacesdesperately needed more green infrastructure.This changed my perspective a bit on how Iwanted to approach my own project. When Ibegan this project, I was convinced that thedevelopment of stormwater friendly open spacesrequired a major overhaul of whatever inadequatestructures were already there. This had methinking about major changes to my chosenspace. But when I began to quite literally noticingthat the ground beneath my feet had beenengineered for excellent permeability, despite itsunassuming appearance, I saw my own space in anew light. I didn’t necessarily have to install high-tech green infrastructure methods to make myspace more stormwater-friendly, I could insteadjust reimagine what was already there, beginningwith the bricks. This realization informed mydecision to re-use the bricks currently in thespace, and replacing the infill that separates eachbrick to increase its permeability.


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