Tag Archives: engineering

First 2015 Save the Rain Project Nearing Completion!

Work is almost complete on the porous asphalt lot at Crest Acura. The permeable base is shown below. The project was designed by Natural Systems Engineering and construction is being performed by Rich & Gardner Construction Company (Syracuse, New York). In addition to managing incident precipitation to the ~15,000 sq ft lot, the project will also infiltrate runoff from the adjoining Crest Acura showroom and service areas. A total of 1.5 million gallons of stormwater will be managed annually.

On June 1-2, 2015, following placement of the permeable base course shown below, NSE measured the site-wide infiltration rate through the roof sump/overflow catch basin. Following the June 1 rain event, the site exhibited an infiltration rate of 0.35 in/hr. Based on this rate, the infiltration basin will completely dewater in roughly 10 hours assuming no additional rainwater input.

Future Crest Vehicle Display Porous Asphalt Lot

Third Phase of Onondaga Commons Green Infrastructure Completed!

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The third phase of the Onondaga Commons Green Infrastructure project, consisting of a porous asphalt lot at the Rural Metro facility located at 488 W. Onondaga Street, Syracuse, was completed on November 24, 2014. The project was designed to capture runoff from the surrounding asphalt parking lot and the Rural Metro building, estimated at over 1 1/2 million gallons annually. The project was designed by Natural Systems Engineering in partnership with Short Enterprises (Syracuse, New York). Construction was performed by Daly Construction (Sacketts Harbor, New York).

Rural Metro Porous Asphalt Lot

Construction underway for JC Smith Green Infrastructure!

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Construction began last week on the JC Smith green infrastructure (GI) project located at 338 Peat Street in Syracuse consisting of a porous asphalt lot, and streetside bioretention areas. The porous asphalt lot will manage stormwater that formerly ran off the impervious storage lot, The bioretention areas will manage runoff from Peat Street and the Canal Street Extension. See photos below. The project is funded by Onondaga County’s Save the Rain program and Natural Systems Engineering, worked constructively with the City of Syracuse to address sewer connection issues given the constraints of the County’s award and the owner’s budget for the project. Construction by J & J Landscaping of East Syracuse.

JC Smith Porous Lot Stone Infiltration Basin with Bioretention Excavation in Foreground.

Kirk Park Outdoor Classroom Dedicated

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On October 28, 2014, the City of Syracuse dedicated the Kirk Park Outdoor Classroom located on Onondaga Creek in Syracuse, New York. The project was undertaken by the City with funding from the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. Natural Systems Engineering supported the lead designer, Trowbridge Wolf Michaels Landscape Architects, with stormwater management design and floodplain modeling for the project.

Kirk Park Outdoor Classroom

Latest Phase of Onondaga Commons Green Infrastructure Completed!

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Construction of green infrastructure consisting of porous asphalt and added greenspace was completed on October 14, 2014 at 414-416 W. Onondaga St., Syracuse. The project is the latest project of the Onondaga Commons redevelopment and is funded by Onondaga County’s Save the Rain program. Natural Systems Engineering successfully collaborated with Short Enterprises on this phase as well as the preceding AAA, Lean-on-Me Day Care projects and the forthcoming Rural Metro green infrastructure project to be completed in 2015.

This project will manage over 1 million gal of what would otherwise be stormwater runoff to the City of Syracuse combined sewer system annually.

Porous asphalt lot and added greenspace at 414-416 W. Onondaga St.

Grace Episcopal Porous Asphalt and Rain Gardens after 1+ Year

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Green infrastructure consisting of porous asphalt and rain gardens was constructed at the Grace Episcopal Church in Syracuse, New York in 2013. The project was funded by Onondaga County’s award-winning Save the Rain program. The project was designed by Natural Systems Engineering and constructed by Lan-Co Companies, East Syracuse, New York. The photographs below were taken in the Summer of 2014, 1 year following construction.

View of Grace Episcopal Church Porous Asphalt lot from Madison Street

Onondaga Tower Green Roof Completed

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Construction of the Onondaga Tower Green (vegetated) roof was completed on September 14. Irrigation to continue for 2 weeks to until cuttings are established. Check back for updated photos next year!

Post-construction photograph of Onondaga Tower green roof

Onondaga Commons Former AAA Building Green Infrastructure Project Completed!

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In August 2014 construction was completed on NSE’s latest green infrastructure project, located at 506 W. Onondaga Street, Syracuse. The project consists of added greenspace and 15,300 sq ft of porous asphalt. The project manages runoff from 17,220 sq ft of impervious surfaces effectively managing over 380,000 gal of stormwater annually.

View of Onondaga Commons, Former AAA Building Greenspace in Foreground with Porous Asphalt in Background

Natural Systems Engineering and Spectra Engineering Team wins County Green Design Contract!

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On April 7, 2014, the team of Spectra Engineering (Syracuse, New York) and Natural Systems Engineering was notified of award for RFP No. 13-3330-002 – Green Project Design Professional Services for Onondaga County, New York. The project will involve the design of “green streets” under the County’s award-winning “Save the Rain” program.

Photo Credit: September 2011 Onondaga County “Save the Rain” newsletter.