United States
Environmental Protection
\*tl K * Agency
September 2013
www.epa.gov/smartgrowth
Greening America's Capitals Indianapolis, Indiana
Smart Growth
GREENING
AMERICA'S CAPITALS
Office of Sustainable Communities
Smart Growth Program
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GREENING AMERICA'S CAPITALS
Greening America's Capitals is an EPA program to help state capitals develop an implementable vision of distinctive, environmentally friendly neighborhoods
that incorporate innovative green infrastructure strategies. In collaboration with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, EPA provides design assistance to help support sustainable
communities that protect the environment, economy, and public health and to inspire state leaders to expand this work elsewhere. Greening America's
Capitals will help communities consider ways to incorporate sustainable design strategies into their planning and development to create and enhance
interesting, distinctive neighborhoods that have multiple social, economic, and environmental benefits.
EPA chose Indianapolis, Indiana in 2012 as one of five state capital cities to receive this assistance, along with Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Des Moines, Iowa;
Frankfort, Kentucky; and Helena, Montana.
Find more information about Greening America's Capitals is at www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/greencapitals.htm
All photos by Origin 4 Design unless otherwise noted.
Smart Growth
GREENING
AMERICA'S CAPITALS
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Greening the City-County Building Plaza
and the City Market East Plaza
Greening America's Capitals Indianapolis, Indiana
&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Sustainable Communities
www.epa.gov/smartgrowth
Origin4Design
Landscape Architecture and Planning
Pittsburgh, PA
www.origin4design.com
Indianapolis, IN
www.elements-engineering.com
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary
1 Introduction
2 Project Area
3 Public Workshop
4 Design Concepts
5 Next Steps
Appendix A
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The city of Indianapolis has long been a leader in integrating green design
principles into their urban design and planning projects. City leaders have
identified another opportunity to continue its greening efforts by creating
a Green Civic District in the southeastern portion of the downtown. The city
applied to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for assistance through
the Greening America's Capitals program to focus on redesigning two plazas
that will both be important open spaces in the district: the City-County
Building Plaza, and the City Market East Plaza. Both plazas are currently
underutilized but have the potential to serve as a model for green design for
visitors, employees, and residents.
The city of Indianapolis would like redesign of the two plazas to achieve
multiple goals:
• Be flexible yet support multiple year-round activities, including
social gatherings and recreational activities.
• Improve bike and pedestrian connections to the rest of the
downtown and the proposed adjacent developments.
• Feature sustainable design and green infrastructure features
that can be a model for the rest of the city and help earn LEED
certification for the City-County Building.
EPA hired a design team that assessed site conditions and led a three-day
workshop that gathered input from city staff, community stakeholders and
the community at large. The workshop solidified a vision for each plaza
that included the desire for more greenspace, increased activity, simplified
circulation paths and better integration with the Cultural Trail. The design
concept for each plaza reorganizes the space to create direct walking paths
and accessible green spaces, while integrating spaces for activity and
events, amenities for bicycle and transit riders and increased plantings. City
staff and key stakeholders also worked with the design team to formulate
short-, mid-, and long-term strategies for funding and implementation.
Figure 1: Design concept for the City Market East Plaza.
Figure 2: Design concept for the City-County Building Plaza.
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1 INTRODUCTION
The city of Indianapolis applied to EPA for assistance to redesign two public
plazas located in the southeast quadrant of downtown Indianapolis—the City-
County Building Plaza and the City Market East Plaza (Figure 3). The city wants
to make the area around the plazas a "Green Civic District" that would include
the City-County Building, the City Market, the future IndyGo bus hub on the
south side of Washington Street and the future mixed-use development to the
east of North Alabama Street. The two plazas serve as the primary open spaces
in this area of the city. EPA hired a design team to assess the current plazas and
surrounding neighborhood, organize a design workshop and develop a set of
design options that illustrate green and sustainable design.
City-County
I..!!.':. = Plaza
Cultural Trail
Future Future Mixed-Use
Bus Hub Development
Residential
Area
Convention/Hotel Monument Circle
Area
City Market
East Plaza
Figure 3: A context map of the site within the southeast quadrant of the downtown.
Figure 4: A map showing the location of the two plazas the traffic flow around the plazas,
and the proximity to the Indianapolis Cultural Trail.
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The plazas are located along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail—a well-used, eight-
mile urban greenway with bike and pedestrian paths that connects downtown
neighborhoods, cultural districts, and other amenities and attractions. The trail
also has green infrastructure features that include rain gardens that collect
stormwater runoff and allow it to naturally infiltrate into the ground and be
cleaned in the process (Figure 5). In addition to cleaning the water this reduces
flow into the city sewer system. The city would like similar green infrastructure
features in the design options for both plazas to improve the look of the plazas
and address stormwater runoff issues.
City staff and the building managers for both the City-County Building and the
City Market would also like to see more activity occur in the plaza. Currently
most people just pass through the plazas and few stop because there really is
nowhere comfortable to sit and nothing to do. People on the Cultural Trail also
tend to walk or ride by without stopping.
The design team listened to the concerns and wants of many people during
a three-day workshop and developed design options for each of the plazas
that could serve the needs of the current and future population of downtown
Indianapolis, and use green infrastructure to improve the look of the plazas, as
well as manage stormwater runoff.
Figure 5: Raingardens along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail collect and absorb stormwater
runoff. These gardens are an example of green infrastructure.
Image provided by the City of Indianapolis,
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2 PROJECT AREA
CITY-COUNTY BUILDING PLAZA
The City-County Building Plaza was constructed in the early 1960s on the site
of the former courthouse. The 28-story building has 4,000 visitors a day, many
of whom enter through the plaza. The plaza gets little use aside from being a
pass-through to the building's entrance. The dominant feature of the plaza is the
raised planting beds that are inaccessible to people and hinder views into and
out of the plaza (Figure 6). The planters are made of black granite blocks that can
be reused in the future design of both the City-County Building Plaza and the
City Market East Plaza.
The plaza sits atop a parking garage that stretches from the building to the
property lines (Figure 7). Because the plaza is on the roof of the garage, soil has
to be mounded up in areas to allow plants and trees to grow (this is why the
current planters are raised). The garage has two existing exhaust vents, two
emergency exits, and an access ramp that cannot be moved, and therefore will
need to be integrated into any new design.
Foot traffic through the plaza could increase significantly with the construction
of the new IndyGo bus hub across Washington Street and the proposed mixed-
use development across Alabama Street. Both adjacent projects have the
potential for strong physical connections to the plaza through safe crosswalks
and welcoming visual gateways. The new design of the plaza could provide
amenities and activity spaces complementing these and other adjacent uses.
The building has recently undergone $8 million in sustainability upgrades,
and the city is now looking to redesign the plaza to meet the same level of
sustainability. Upgrades to the plaza could support LEED (Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design) certification for the building (See Appendix A for
possible LEED credit points).
The Indianapolis Cultural Trail runs along the southern edge of the plaza within
the right-of-way of Washington Street. The trail is a 7.5-mile path that connects
five downtown cultural districts. In addition to a walking and biking path, the
trail has a "super planter"that collects, treats, and infiltrates stormwater runoff.
The trail also includes an abundance of shade trees.
Figure 6: A view into the plaza showing the raised planting beds that are inaccessible to
people.
4
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Emergency
Exit
Air Intake
Pylons
Figure 7: The parking garage under the plaza serves employees of the building. The
rooftop condition limits planting depths and determines how much stormwater can be
captured for reuse,The garage vents, exits, and ramp cannot be moved and will need to
be incorporated into the design.
Figure 8: Roughly half of the plaza area is planted in raised beds.
Figure 9: The pedestrian circulation (shown by red lines) is awkward for those who want
to access the buildings from the street corners (shown in the orange dashed lines).
5
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CITY MARKET - EAST PLAZA
City Market - East Plaza is located on the cor ner of Market Street and North
Alabama Street.The market was established in the 1880s, serving a thriving
downtown with fresh produce, bread, cheeses, meats, and fish.The market
closed in the 1960s, but was renovated and reopened in 1977.The renovations
included the addition of new building wings to the east and west fronted by
half-acre plazas. The west wing currently houses a civic gathering space known
as The Platform, The west plaza is a popular outdoor lunch spot and is being
redesigned to include indoor-outdoor restaurant/pub seating along the market
building. The east wing addition currently houses a YMCA and the Indy Bike Hub,
which provides cyclists with storage and service under one roof with showers
and changing rooms.The YMCA/bike hub is conveniently located along the
Cultural Trail which runs along the eastern side of North Alabama Street across
from the plaza.
East Plaza is not very inviting and functions primarily as a pass-through to the
YMCA's main entrance and the side door of the City Market. A driveway and
some parking spaces that were in the plaza were recently removed, leaving a
large concrete and brick expanse. A sunken fountain along the City Market wall
has not functioned for years.
Since 2010, the managers of the City Market have been looking for ways to
use the plaza for market and YMCA events and incorporate some sustainable
design features to capture and treat stormwater. In 2010 they received a $20,000
stormwater reclamation grant from United Water (the operators of the city's
water and wastewater systems) to redesign the fountain. The design process
stalled out in 2011 due to lack of additional funding, but the managers of the
City Market hope that the Greening America's Capitals project will kick-start
efforts to redesign the plaza.
Figure 10; View of the plaza from Market Street showing the excessive amount of paving
and lack of green space.
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Fountain
Figure 11: A small percentage of the current plaza is planted, while an inoperable
sunken fountain occupies a significant amount of space along the City Market
building.
Figure 12: A plaza redesign should allow for flexible circulation to the many access
points. The City Market stakeholders requested a strong path from the busy street
corner to the building entrance (shown by the dashed orange line).
Figure 13:The south-facing solid brick wall and windowed walls ofthe YMCA/bike hub
absorb the heat ofthe sun creating uncomfortable temperatures in the building during
the warmer months.
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3 PUBLIC WORKSHOP
The design team held a three-day workshop March 19-21, 2013. The workshop
included four interactive focus group sessions—one on green Infrastructure,
one on implementation and funding, and one for each of the plazas where
participants shared their ideas for how the plazas could be improved.
Participants included city staff representatives, building managers from the City-
County Building and City Market, market vendors, community members, and
several design professionals. The design team held a public open house at the
end of the second day that showed design progress, and a wrap-up presentation
on the last day where they displayed the final design concepts and asked
participants "if they got it right." Participants believed they had.
The following project goals emerged through the workshop:
Overall Goals
Make the plazas examples of sustainable design.
Use simple, unified materials for paving, walls, seating, and plantings.
Integrate the Cultural Trail into the design of the plazas.
Keep future users in mind for design of the bus hub, residential
community expansion, and proposed multi -use development.
City-County Building Plaza Goals
Provide space for many different activities.
Provide greenspace that is accessible to people.
Manage and treat stormwater runoff through green infrastructure.
Design clear lines of sight through the plaza.
Make crosswalks wider and more visible across Washington Street to
the future bus hub.
City Market - East Plaza Goals
Create more green space and remove paving.
Remove or redesign the fountain.
Draw activity from buildings into the plaza such as fitness classes and
market stalls.
Reinforce the circulation path from the street corner to building
entrances.
Figure 14: A design concept takes shape for the City-County Building
Piaza.
Figure 15: Wrap-up workshop presentation at The Platform.
Ped^' ec0no-
prograrn
Figure 16: Notes from the focus group sessions on display.
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4 DESIGN CONCEPTS CITY-COUNTY BUILDING PLAZA
Kiosk structure and variety of seating opportunities
Food truck staging
Rain garden plantings at low points
Covered bicycle parking
Existing pylons and redesigned water fountains
Central Green
Raised crosswalks Site of Future Bus Hub
Canopy Structures
Trellis
Figure 17: City-County Building Plaza design concept.
The vision for the City-County Building Plaza responds to the community's primary
request for a year-round active, vibrant space. The plaza would not only be used
by downtown workers and visitors, but eventually by the residents of the new
development proposed to the east of the plaza. In the design option, the plaza will
be reorganized around a central green flanked by direct paths of circulation. This
lawn could be converted into a skating rink in the winter. Perimeter walls will be
kept to a minimum, allowing people to enjoy the lawn areas. Where there are walls,
they are low and used for seating. The seating walls and some stepped seating decks
serve as retaining walls where soil is mounded for tree planting since plantings
must be elevated due to the parking garage below. The trees will help shade the
plaza to provide a comfortable pedestrian space. Kiosks will provide space for food
vendors and other amenities, and could be covered by green roofs and solar panels.
Additional vendors such as food trucks could park nearby along Washington Street.
Canopy structures and trellises will create a dynamic visual presence, define zones,
and provide shade and scale where it may not be possible to plant trees. Canopies
also funnel stormwater to various catchment systems, including cisterns that sit on
the plaza roof; deep cisterns located under the perimeter sidewalks; and shallow
tray systems located under both paving and planted areas (Figure 18). Water for
irrigation and fountain use could be pumped from the cisterns, while the trays could
provide water directly to root systems of lawn, trees, and shrubs. Plantings in beds
on the edge of the lawn areas can filter runoff so that water is taken up by the plants'
roots and evaporated through a process called "evapotranspiration."These beds are
also known as rain gardens. Bicycle parking, including sheltered parking, will be
integrated throughout. Materials from the existing plaza, primarily the granite walls,
could be reused in new seating walls and paving. Raised crosswalks provide a strong
visual connection and safer crossing to the new bus hub across Washington Street.
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Pockets of rain garden
plantings at low elevations
absorb stormwater.
Cisterns buried under sidewalk/plaza outside
of garage walls, allow for plaza rainwater to be
stored for irrigation of the plaza.
Tray system on garage roof stores Cisterns placed on top of the garage roof
rain water and makes it available collect and store rainwater from elevated
to lawn and tree roots. roof and deck surfaces.
Water infiltrates
through grass
and planted areas.
Water not absorbed
by plantings exits to
additional cisterns along
property line to the west.
Figure 18: Section cut across the City-County Building Plaza concept illustrating potential green infrastructure solutions (water flow is represented by the blue arrows).
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Figure 19: Winter evening view of the City-County Building design concept.
The design concept seeks to generate year-round activity as well as evening interest.
In the winter, the central lawn could host an ice rink while the kiosks could rent
skates and sell hot chocolate and other cold-weather treats. This would create a
unique cold-weather destination in the city that would also generate revenue.
The night lighting scheme itself could be a reason to visit the plaza. The existing
granite pylons could be treated with a simple LED light bands, updating this original
feature of the plaza with 21st century technology. Glowing bands of light could
accent the curvilinear shapes of the paths, walls, decks and seating, creating safe
pedestrian areas while minimizing light pollution and the clutter of poles. Vibrant
accent lighting could highlight architectural features and activity spaces throughout
the plaza.
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Viewpoint
Figure 20: View into plaza arid the kiosk area from the southwest corner.
This view captures the approach to the City-County Building from the intersection
of Delaware Street and Washington Street. While a main pathway will curve toward
the building entrance, a series of kiosk windows serve the bustling corner where
the Cultural Trail, new bus hub, and plaza meet. The community requested that the
kiosk concept be designed for flexibility in programming. The kiosk also screens the
existing emergency exit structure for the parking garage. This structure could include
public restrooms or act as a screen for portable restrooms that could be brought in
seasonally or for specific functions. To the right, seating is visible at the plaza level
and on raised decks that offer prime views for people-watching at the sidewalk and
of the central green beyond. The raised deck will also allow for deeper soil to support
trees and cover stormwater storage cisterns sitting on the parking garage roof.
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4 DESIGN CONCEPTS CITY MARKET - EAST PLAZA
City Market
Stormwater directed to rain gardens
Excess stormwater is captured in cistern under deck and used for irrigation
Rain barrel demonstration
Vertical greening shades window wall in the summer months
Green roof
Sheltered bike parking
Bus shelter
Water fountain/water bottle recharge station
To Cultural Trail
Figure 21: City Market - East Plaza design concept.
The design concept energizes the plaza with activity while adding lush green
infrastructure features such as vertical greening and rain gardens. The main path of
circulation from the building entrances to the street corner could be reinforced with
a wide walk and a water feature at the entrance using filtered stormwater collected
from the roofs and plaza.The water feature ends in a drinking fountain/water bottle
recharge station which uses potable water (Figure 21). The remaining spaces will
be divided into small gathering areas with seating walls of granite reused from
the City-County Building Plaza and shaded by new trees. Sheltered bike parking is
prominent along the YMCA wall, making the bike hub use more visible to passersby
and providing a possible location for a future bike share program. The former
fountain area could be covered by decks that provide a gathering/lunch spot as well
as programmed activity space that could host fitness classes. Stormwater runoff
will be collected from the market's roof (see blue lines on Figure 21) and directed to
small rain gardens that provide stormwater infiltration. Paving bands on the surface
of the plaza suggest the water's path as it is piped underground to the cistern. Excess
stormwater could be captured in cisterns located under the deck for use in irrigation
(Figure 22). Walls with climbing vines and a green roof help manage stormwater and
regulate the temperature of the YMCA building. A new bus shelter would create a
comfortable waiting area for transit riders.
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sictionC^Line
Surface drainage is directed to shallow
channels in paving.
Roof water is
directed to under-
ground cisterns via
downspouts
and underground
pipes.
Increased tree canopy absorbs
stormwater and provides shade to the
sunny south-facing plaza.
Channeled water is directed to planters
featuring rain garden plantings while excess
water enters the cistern via drains.
Cisterns buried under deck allow for plaza and
roof rainwater to be stored for irrigation of the
plaza's planters.
Rain garden plantings that are tolerant of
both wet and dry conditions absorb and filter
stormwater while softening the appearance of
the plaza.
Figure 22; Section cut across the City Market - East Plaza concept illustrating potential stormwater infrastructure. The deck is in the location of the sunken fountain and provides a multi-use
seating and activity area which screens—and also provides access to—the cisterns underneath.
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F
Figure 23: City Market - East Piaza concept view of water bottle recharge fountain with sheltered bike parking along the YMCA wall behind.
The blank southeast wall of the YMCA provides a great opportunity for a sheltered
bike storage area. Vertical storage would use less space while making the bikes
more visible, helping convey the bike hub use to passersby and Cultural Trail users.
The area could also be specially designated for a bike share program. This view
also illustrates a drinking fountain/water bottle recharge station to further enliven
the plaza. The fountain could be used by City Market lunch patrons, commuters,
trail users, and YMCA members. Encouraging the reuse of bottles would conserve
resourcesand eliminate waste. The fountain design could incorporate the talents ofa
local artist and create a unique centerpiece for the plaza.
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5 NEXT STEPS
The creation of a Green Civic District anchored by the two plazas would ideally treat the two plazas as one large project, funded in
coordination with surrounding developments. The new plazas would serve as an amenity to the new IndyGo bus hub and future mixed-use
development across North Delaware Street. A comprehensive approach would leverage funding from adjacent projects, but this big-picture,
coordinated approach may be too difficult to achieve due to the complexities of funding and phasing. A more incremental approach to
assembling funding sources for each plaza may be required. The following timeline and funding table apply this incremental approach.
IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE
(City-County Building Plaza)
Begin to research/strategize on funding.
Implement LEED credits not requiring
plaza redesign (see Appendix A).
(Both Plazas)
Begin to assemble funding.
Implement "first step actions"
(listed below).
(Both Plazas)
Continue to assemble funding looking for
new opportunities to leverage adjacent
development projects as they begin to take
shape.
(City-County Building Plaza)
SHORT TERM
18 Months
(City Market - East Plaza)
Research funding opportunities that could leverage
the existing $15,000 grant as matching funds.
Use the $15,000 grant on actions not requiring
comprehensive plaza redesign.
MID TERM
Begin demolition and disassembly of granite
walls for reuse.
Begin construction of the new plaza.
LONG TERM
3+Years
(Both Plazas)
Obtain funding for the design process
and select a design team to create a
comprehensive plaza redesign.
Begin the design process, including public
outreach; if two design teams are selected,
encourage coordination.
(City- Market - East Plaza)
Begin demolition.
If re-using granite from the City-
County Building Plaza walls, phase
construction to begin once the
material is available.
Begin construction of the new plaza.
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FIRST STEP ACTIONS
Can begin prior to a comprehensive plaza redesign.
City County Building Plaza
Implement LEED Credits that can begin
immediately (see Appendix A).
Coordinate food trucks at Washington Street.
Install raised crosswalks across Washington Street
intersections once the bus hub is complete.
City Market - East Plaza
Fill in the existing fountain and install a deck and
plantings.
Install vertical plantings along the YMCA/bike hub.
Install a rain barrel demonstration area at the YMCA/
bike hub.
Install a sheltered bike rack at the YMCA/bike hub
wall.
Design and install a water bottle recharge fountain.
Install a bus shelter.
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Plaza Components and Funding Strategies
Wants Action Funding Source
Redesign plazas
as an example
of sustainable
design
Absorb stormwater on site
through:
rain gardens, collection/reuse
systems, increased tree canopy
and general greening.
EPA Clean Water Act Section 319 funding
Provides funding for urban stormwater strategies to prevent pollution. Both plazas contain strategies that mitigate pollution with rain gardens.
Indiana Department of Natural Resources: Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)
As the primary greenspace for a growing area of the city, the plazas meet the grant's objective to develop outdoor recreation sites and facilities. Grants range from
$20,000 to $200,000 and require a 50% local match.
Indiana Department of Natural Resources: Community & Urban Forestry Grants
As public properties that address environmental issues such as water quality, air quality, and pollutants, the plazas are eligible for Urban Forestry grant funding. Tree
planting on the plazas would be an eligible use of funds. Grants range from $2,000 to $ 12,000.
United Water Indianapolis
United Water Indianapolis provided the City Market with $20,000 in 2010 to redesign the defunct fountain in the plaza. These funds could be used to design and
build the water bottle recharge fountain. United Water may be able to fund additional green infrastructure features in both the plazas.
Provide demonstration areas at
the City Market East Plaza that
show sustainable food produc-
tion for school groups and the
general public.
Healthy Cities Initiative
Indianapolis has been a past recipient of Healthy Cities funding and may be eligible again. With the ongoing movement to combat obesity and related diseases,
new funding sources are likely to become available. Health insurance companies, hospitals/healthcare institutions, and private foundations are likely funders.
Grow-N-lndy
Although designed to create community gardens to increase Indianapolis residents' access to nutritious food, the initiative may also support urban agriculture
efforts at the East Plaza for its ability to reach a wide audience.
Indy Food Fund
The food demonstration component of the East Plaza aligns with the fund's goal to support an Indianapolis food system that provides everyone access to healthy
and nutritious food, enhances ecology, and creates meaningful economic and civic opportunities. The fund awarded its first grants in 2013 totaling $45,450.
Create a vibrant
plaza for a variety
of users.
Provide spaces and structures
for a range of activities such
as performances, skating, and
vendors.
Create an outdoor fitness area
in City Market East Plaza.
National Endowment for the Arts: Our Town Grant
The redesigned plazas meet grant goals by increasing livability of a growing urban neighborhood and providing new gathering spaces for the performing arts.
Through the redesign, the plazas themselves serve as urban art. Grants range from $25,000 to $200,000.
Community Development Block Grants
HUD provides state-administered funding for reconstruction of neighborhood centers, recreation facilities, and other public works, all of which align with the plazas
and their components.
Healthy Cities Initiative
The deck could be used for fitness activities and is one of several plaza components that directly support a healthy lifestyle (See the grant description above).
Central Indiana Community Foundation
The foundation offers several grant opportunities that support health and wellness and vitality of neighborhoods and communities. Both plazas meet these goals.
Awards vary by grant and range from $5,000 to $ 100,000.
Increase the
comfort and
usability of the
plazas.
Provide a drinking/water bottle
fountain.
United Water Services of Indiana
A past contributor to the Cultural Trail, the fountain provides a unique opportunity for corporate giving that further supports that initiative while supporting an
amenity directly related to water.
Cultural Trail Funders
As an amenity to trail users, the fountain can be considered an extension of trail enhancement efforts, and may appeal to past trail funders.
Healthy Cities Initiative
The drinking fountain is one of several plaza components that directly support a healthy lifestyle (See the grant description above).
Increase con-
nectivity to the
Cultural Trail and
future bus hub.
Provide bicycle storage and
facilities.
Provide a bus shelter.
Federal/State Transit Funding
Bike improvements on the plazas directly improve connectivity and convenience, for transit riders and pedestrians. The facilities could receive funding as
components of a larger initiative such as the neighboring IndyGo bus hub or a new bike share program.
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APPENDIX A
One of the primary goals of the Indianapolis Greening America's Capitals project is to help identify LEED credits that the plaza redesign can contribute to a LEED Existing
Building certification for the City-County Building. The building has recently undergone $8 million in sustainability upgrades, but requires additional points to achieve
certification. The table below lists the LEED credits which are likely achievable on the current plaza or through plaza redesign.
Achievable LEED Credits for the City-County Building Plaza
LEED Credit
Requirements
Action
SS Credit 2:
Building exterior and
hardscape management plan
(1 point)
Use low-impact and biodegradable cleaners for hardscape surfaces.
Use magnesium chloride, potassium acetate, or potassium chloride for de-icing.
Switch to lower-impact maintenance equipment, such as mulching mowers and
low-decibel blowers.
Can begin immediately. No plaza enhancements required.
SS Credit 3:
Integrated Pest Management, Erosion
Control, and Landscape Management
Plan
(1 point)
Divert landscape waste from disposal.
Minimize use of chemical fertilizers.
Adopt an outdoor integrated pest management plan.
Adoptan erosion and sedimentation control plan forongoing landscape operations.
Can begin immediately. No plaza enhancements required.
SS Credit 4:
Alternative Commuting Transportation
(1 point)
Demonstrate a 10% reduction in conventional commuting trips.
Provide space and infrastructure features, such as bicycle racks, changing facilities,
and access to mass transit.
Offer employee incentives for using alternative transportation.
Communicate with building occupants about alternatives and facilitate
communication among building occupants for coordinating ride sharing.
Efforts to gauge the current use of alternative transpor-
tation can begin immediately. Incentives to encourage
alternative transportation can also begin. The construction
of the IndyGo bus hub and the sheltered bike racks of the
plaza redesign should have a measurable impact as well.
SS Credit 5:
Site Development - Protect or Restore
Open Habitat
(1 or 2 points)
Install native or adapted vegetation on 25% of the total site area (excluding the
building footprint) or 5% of the total site area (including the building footprint),
whichever is greater (1 point).
Points would have to be achieved through an off-site
restoration area, which is allowable. The plaza redesign
includes large areas of lawn that does not qualify as native
or adapted habitat.
SS Credit 7.1:
Heat Island Reduction: Non-Roof
(1 point)
OPTION B: Place at least 50% of parking spaces under cover. Parking cover must
have a solar reflectance index (SRI) of at least 29.
With a combination of planting and new paving, the plaza
can meet the SRI requirement.
SS Credit 8:
Light Pollution Reduction
(1 point)
OPTION B: Partially or fully shade all fixtures 50 watts and over so that they do not
directly emit light into the night sky.
Can begin immediately, and may be possible to retrofit
existing fixtures.
WE Credit 3:
Water Efficient Landscaping
(1 point)
Reduce use of natural surface or subsurface water for landscape irrigation
50% reduction:
Lawn and planting features of the redesigned plazas will
require irrigation. The credit can be fulfilled through effi-
cient irrigation technologies, and use of captured rainwa-
ter. Use of groundwater is not normally allowed, but a case
could be made that the plaza's use of excess groundwater,
that would otherwise be pumped into the combined sewer
should be allowed.
18
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&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
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