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GREEN BUILDING GUIDE

RESOURCES

SOUTHWEST CONCOURSE

RENOVATION

North Aerial Perspective

New Project Hopes to Turn

Southwest from Concrete Jungle to Urban Oasis – The Massachusetts Daily Collegian

New Bioretention Swale Diverts Rain,

Preserves Wetlands around UMass Amherst Campus – UMass Amherst News & Media Relations

UMass Amherst Completes Nearly

100 Building Projects and Upgrades During a Busy Summer of Construction Activity – UMass Amherst News & Media Relations

University of Massachusetts

Southwest Concourse: Designing Stormwater – Stephen Stimson Associates

University of Massachusetts

Southwest Concourse – Stephen Stimson Associates

Southwest Concourse UMass –

Studio 2112 Landscape Architecture

UMass Southwest Concourse – Crosby Schlessinger Smallridge, LLC

Southwest Concourse, UMass

Amherst – Soak Up the Rain

Video - Sustainability Made Easy

Site Plan

PROJECT OVERVIEW FEATURES & BENEFITS HOW IT WORKS

The $12 million Southwest Concourse renovation is a comprehensive revitalization of a five-acre central pedestrian core, bordered by residential towers, dining halls, and student activity spaces within the 5,000-student Southwest Residential Area.

Sustainability and environmental education themes are integrated throughout the landscape to encourage student interaction. The design incorporates campus and regional design influences to repopulate the landscape with native trees and plantings. Strategic variations in topography promote natural stormwater management, with minimal maintenance required. Together, these features create an aesthetically pleasing, environmentally sustainable Southwest that embodies the Pioneer Valley. The project received an Award of Excellence for Design by the Boston Society of Landscape Architects in 2012, and an Honor Award of Excellence by the Society for College University Planning in 2014.

Southwest Aerial Perspective

Existing site topography was modified to create a series of sloped, linear channels called bioswales. Bioswales collect, cleanse, and infiltrate stormwater naturally onsite, as opposed to conventional underground sewer systems. The sides and bottom of the bioswales are lined with native vegetation, soil, and rock to filter stormwater and remove harmful pollutants from surface runoff.

After treatment, stormwater is diverted to large basins, which discharge runoff into sewers and waterways. Basins are interspersed throughout the concourse, and also function as congregation areas for students. This stormwater strategy provides ideal growing conditions for trees,

Sustainably-harvested IPE hardwood

decking

Bioswale design utilizes salvaged

granite and recycled stone

Old concourse – 30% pervious

landscape surface, 70% impervious

hardscape

New concourse – 60% pervious

landscape surface, 40% impervious

hardscape

Stormwater management plan

incorporates rainwater infiltration and porous pavers to reduce offsite discharge

Runnel water diversion channels,

vegetated bioswales, rain gardens, tree box filters, and engineered soils aid in stormwater transport and infiltration, improving site drainage

Planting strategy utilizes a diverse

palette of native plant, shrub, and grass species

Site infrastructure and utility

upgrades provide increased energy efficiency throughout the entire concourse

Fosters student appreciation for

nature within an urban environment

Energy-efficient concourse lighting

design

Northeast View

Covered Bioswales