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Humboldt Gardens was a Hope VI, affordable housing project for the Housing Authority of Portland, which included a mixed use building that achieved LEED Silver certification from the USGBC.

As Landscape Architect we collaborated with the Civil Engineer to develop an award winning approach to a Green Street treatment for stormwater.  The plantings for the Green Street used water tolerant plants and swale seed mix in the swales  with more residential plant selections by the walkways leading into the units. The combination of the lawn and swale grass  panels as they move through the front yard and shrub beds allows easy maintenance by mowing both.

The project’s sustainable design elements including permeable paving, soft stormwater swales, a green street, a community pocket park and garden seating courtyards.  The landscaping approach throughout the project was child tough, low maintenance and complementary to a residential neighborhood.

Humboldt Gardens was recognized by the 2009 City of Portland BEST Awards as the winner of the Green Building for New construction/Major renovation.

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Our goal for this medical center project was to retain as much of the existing, native vegetation on site as possible and to incorporate a majority of native plants into the new landscaping. Site features included a “stormwater feature”, which will replicate a natural stream bed with multiple water falls; a healing garden located adjacent to the main lobby, which will serve as a viewing garden and outdoor gathering space; and an outdoor patio space for staff. The project is currently pursuing LEED Silver.

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Macdonald Environmental Planning was sought after by developer Steven Ribiero, to find the most flawless and sustainable greenwall system on the market, and to develop initial concepts for the greenwall. The system chosen was Green Living Technologies greenwall system and it’s parameters were researched prior to conceptualizing, aiding in creating realistic renderings for the greenwall.

Macdonald Environmental Planning initiated the conceptual thought process by developing four very different concepts for the greenwall. These concepts were used as a catalyst for the project team to move the project forward and are being used to raise outside funds to pay for the greenwall. The greenwall is scheduled to be installed in a 4 story open atrium lobby and will clad the exterior of the elevator shaft from floor to ceiling.

This LEED Platinum prospective building, otherwise coined “The Worlds Greenest Building, is expected to achieve 64-66 LEED points which would make it the most sustainable building in the country by LEED standards.

To find out more about this project visit the Independence Station website.