Green Design Practices

Biofilters. These environmentally-friendly stormwater management features collect, filter and clean the water before it discharges into the surface waters. Proper design moves the stormwater from buildings, roads and other impervious surfaces into the biofilters for treatment. Native plantings enhance the absorption and filtering of contaminants. Biofilters are typically smaller in size than retention ponds, which make them ideal for use in dense urban areas.

OMNNI designed 11 biofilters for the parking and infrastructure project currently being constructed at the Outagamie County Regional Airport.

Porous Asphalt Pavement. Instead of allowing rain water to pour off of the pavement, porous asphalt allows stormwater to drain through the pavement. It can be used as an alternative for managing stormwater, and with proper design, can act as a system to treat stormwater, reduce rates of runoff, improve water quality and promote infiltration. Interest in porous asphalt pavement is steadily growing because it offers public works officials, planners and engineers with a new and environmentally friendly way to manage stormwater that doesn't require the use of additional real estate.

OMNNI recently completed a study that was used in developing mix design specifications by the Wisconsin Asphalt Pavement Association.

Phytoremediation. Typically, soils that are contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or heavy metals are cleaned up by excavating the soil and placing it in a landfill, which is a very costly solution. OMNNI's Environmental Group is currently working on projects incorporating Phytoremediation. Phytoremediation is a “green” technology and involves the use of plants to assist in the clean up of contaminated soil and groundwater. It is a very cost-effective way to to clean up VOCs and metal contamination.

OMNNI is working closely with the WDNR, Winnebago County, the City of Menasha, and a forestry consultant to remediate a contaminated site in Menasha that was once a former drum recycling operation. Twenty test trees were planted on the site to determine if they could survive in the highly contaminated areas. Since then, Hybrid Poplar, Cottonwood, and Aspen trees have been planted across the remainder of the site to remediate the soil and groundwater contamination. The University of WI-Madison provided the Aspen trees to study the effectiveness of using a native species for Phytoremediation projects.

Conservation Subdivisions. Unlike traditional subdivisions, where a piece of land is divided into lots until the entire property is consumed for development, conservation subdivisions offer an alternative approach. Residences are clustered together on smaller lots surrounded by preserved open spaces. The resulting benefit is that much of the property is permanently protected from development. Rural landscapes, open vistas, scenic views and walking trails are all features of conservation subdivisions that increase a community’s overall quality of life.

OMNNI earned a First Place ribbon from the Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors in the Subdivision/Plat Category for its detailed map of Edgewood Village, the first conservation subdivision to be developed in the City of Oshkosh, and one of the first in the Fox Valley area.

Enhanced Wetland Habitats. The law prohibits destruction of wetland habitats. OMNNI’s wetland specialists and engineers work with clients to improve existing wetlands by removing invasive plant species, planting native species, and enhancing the hydrology of the wetland. The resulting design is an improved habitat for wildlife and a more attractive site feature providing recreational and educational benefits.

OMNNI designed a restoration program for the new Apple Creek YMCA, which is restoring three wetland areas at the site for use as natural outdoor classrooms.

Green Teaching Building Concept

The Green Teaching Building Concept is to take an existing building in the community that is currently underutilized and renovate it into an educational tool. The building itself would be used to teach green building design concepts to the community and the students of the Fox River Academy.

The Fox River Academy is a multi-age (Grades 3-8) environmental charter school located in the Appleton Area School District. The Fox River Academy focuses on the environmental, historical, cultural, recreational, and economic importance of the Fox River. Students receive instruction integrating all core subject areas using the Fox River and its watershed as an anchor for learning.

Brian Wayner, OMNNI Associates, is leading the way to create a green teaching building to house additional classrooms for the Fox River Academy. In addition to providing the much needed classroom space, the building itself would become a teaching tool. Site design features would include porous pavement, biofilters, and native plantings. Energy use would be monitored. Heating/cooling days would be recorded. Day lighting and passive solar design would be incorporated into the renovation. A geothermal heating/cooling system would be connected to radiant flooring. Low flow water devices would be used. Green building technologies would be showcased throughout the building and adjacent grounds.

The desire is to have the teaching building go beyond student use. It will be a place where students can bring their families to show off various technologies that can be utilized within their own homes. It will be a place where local contractors can come in to review technologies under real-world conditions. It will be a place where other schools can see the benefits of green school buildings.

For more information on Green Design, contact Brian Wayner at brian.wayner@omnni.com.