Campus RainWorks AgroEcology Gateway Experience: Extending UMD's Agricultural Legacy to the North Gateway


AgroEcology Gateway Experience:

Extending UMD's Agricultural Legacy to the North

Gateway

University of Maryland
Stude m D20

rn Members

Xiaojin Ren: Master of Landscape Architecture
Audrey Fann: Master of Landscape Architecture
Jonathan Mallory: Master of Landscape Architecture
Isabella Batish: B.S. in Environmental Science and Technology
Anushka Tandon: B.S. in Environmental Science and Technology
Lucy Hayes: BS in Environmental Science and Technology

Faculty Advisors

Dr. Byoung-Suk Kweon: Associate Professor, Department of Plant Science and
Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland

Dr. Peter May: Assistant Research Professor, Department of Environmental Science and
Technology, University of Maryland

Michael Carmichael: Stormwater Maintenance Coordinator, Facilities Management,
University of Maryland

Professional Advisors

Darwin Feuerstein: Campus Landscape Architect, Facilities Management, University of
Maryland

Christopher Ho, P.E.: Campus Civil Engineer, Facilities Management, University of
Maryland

Daniel Hayes: Campus Planner, Facilities Management, University of Maryland
Christopher D. Ellis, Professor,

Dennis Nola: Instructor and BLA Program Chair, Department of Plant Science and
Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland

Max Berger: Videographer and Photographer, Max Berger Video and Photo

Anna Dennis, PLA, Senior Associate, Design Collective

Che-Wei Yi: Landscape Designer, Rodgers Consulting

Michael Furbish: President, Furbish

Paul Jester: PLA, J&G Landscape Design

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ABSTRACT

Located in the northmost part of the University of Maryland (UMD), the 5-acre site
selected by the team includes three parking lots (named PI, NN, and P2), the
Chesapeake building that hosts the Human Resources Department, several vegetated
areas, and an abandoned space at the edge of the forest. Although situated in the
northern gateway, the site is not as warm and welcoming as possible, The three parking
lots occupying most of the site are underutilized, cause water pollution, and intensify
the urban heat island effect due to their lack of canopy coverage. The current
stormwater management system, including a sand filter and traditional stormwater
drains, is outdated, hard to maintain, and leads to potential environmental issues. These
include erosion and pollution in Campus Creek and Paint Branch, where the stormwater
is conveyed.

To solve the existing stormwater management issues and take advantage of the
opportunities brought by the historical context of the site, the AgroEcology Gateway
Experience proposes a design that incorporates green infrastructure and innovative
techniques, creates environmental and ecological benefits, highlights UMD's agricultural
legacy, enhances the aesthetic of the campus gateway, and expands the University's
agroecology corridor. The proposed site will bring educational, environmental,
ecological, as well as social benefits.

PROJECT CONTEXT AND SITE SELECTION

SITE CONTEXT

Lying near the fall line
between the Piedmont and Coastal
Plain, which serves as the transition
between the temperate upland oak-
hickory forests and the marshy
habitats of the Coastal Plain, UMD
serves as a microcosm of the
transition and is formed by various
ecological environments (Figure 1).

Meanwhile, the University's
environmental conditions affect its
surroundings, and stormwater is no
exception.

Campus Creek provides
essential habitats to the local

Legend
M The Site

100 year Flood Plain

Layer RMS All7ys.
IH Bioretention
Dry Swale
Green Roof

I Pond imitate
Sand Filter

> Paint Branch Stream
• Campus Creek
I Upland forest
Bioswale
] Lowland Forest

Figure 1: University of Maryland north district
context map

2

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vegetation and wildlife while helping with water circulation and regulating its
surrounding microenvironment. Currently, it is experiencing a decrease in biodiversity,
stream degradation, channel incision, and streambank erosion (UMCP Campus Creek,
n.d.). As for Paint Branch, impervious surfaces and channelized waterways harm
downstream habitats by polluting the stream with toxic metals and eroding stream
banks (Eyes of Paint Branch - EOPB, n.d.). Sedimentation is also a problem faced by the
Paint Branch watershed (Eyes of Paint Branch - EOPB, n.d.). Collected and channelized
to the Campus Creek and Paint Branch Stream, a large amount of the stormwater from
the campus is conveyed to the Anacostia Watershed, one of the most polluted
watersheds in the country (The Anacostia River, 2006), worsening the situation. UMD's
Campus Creek Phase II Stream Restoration proposes to solve this problem by using a
"regenerative stream conveyance approach," which will improve the upstream condition
by reducing flow rates and bringing back native vegetation. This wiil minimize
sedimentation downstream that flows into the Paint Branch Stream.

UMD has a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) MS4 Phase
II system and takes a wide range of stormwater management measures. Maryland
Stormwater Design Manual, which was originally published in October 2000, is used as
the official guide for stormwater management in Maryland (Maryland Stormwater
Design Manual, n.d.). The university itself also developed its stormwater goals.
According to the Facilities Master Plan, 2011 -2030, the University's goal for the north
district is to "Improve ability to store and treat stormwater run-off prior to it reaching
Campus Creek to reduce the degradation of the Creek's corridor" (2011-2030FMP.Pdf,
n.d.). In its 2017 climate action plan, the University is also committed to achieving
carbon neutrality by 2025 (Climate Action Plan / Office of Sustainability, n.d.). The
university incorporates abundant stormwater facilities for stormwater management on
campus, such as green roofs, rain gardens, bioretention cells, swales, and permeable
pavers. According to a
student researcher, 188
stormwater facilities are
in use (Collier, 2018). As
a global leader in the
study of climate change,
the university's
measures to address
climate goals are not
limited to green
stormwater
management. Other
green technologies, such

Legend
M The Site

1ZD Agroecology Corridor
Paint Branch Stream

Campus Creek

- ¦ - University Property

Figure 2: The site is bounded by the UMD's Agroecology
Corridor

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as electric vehicle charging stations, solar energy production, are also promoted.

Tracing its roots back to 1856 when Maryland Agricultural College was chartered,
the university's mission was primarily agricultural but evolved to embrace other fields
such as engineering (Timeline, 2016). The university takes its rich agricultural history
and commitment to environmental stewardship seriously. After many years, the
university formed the agroecology corridor, a network of greenspaces that provide
experiential learning, food, and ecosystem services (Figure 2). The goal of the
agroecology corridor is to "transform every green space on campus into a project that
demonstrates a positive ecological impact" (Dietrich et al., n.d.)

LECTION

We selected the northern gateway to UMD as our site, which is approximately 5
acres. Unlike a lot of other areas of campus which have been improved with time and
address environmental issues, the area has been neglected. The site contains 47%
impervious surfaces and 53% pervious surfaces. It is located within a 13.35 acre's
micro-watershed, where 11,815 cu ft stormwater needs to be treated to achieve "woods
in good" condition (ESD Design Guidline.Pdf, n.d.). Because of the generic parking layout
and stormwater infrastructure, the environment does not provide an enjoyable
experience for the viewers. The parking lots within the site contribute to the stormwater
pollution by accumulating oils and heavy metals from vehicular traffic. Some degraded
spots on the site also have ponding issues, making it inconvenient and unsafe for
pedestrians. The abandoned space at the edge of the forest is underutilized and
unsightly.

Although neglected, great ecological values and design opportunities are
provided by the site. It is situated within one of the most ecologically diverse portions of
campus. According to the campus masterplan, "The area boasts an upland forest,
meadow, successional growth area, wooded riparian stream corridor, lowland forest,
forested wetland, wetlands, ponds, rain gardens, Campus Creek and the Paint Branch,
bioswales, and sand filters" (Facilities Master Plan 2010-2030, p.87). This rich
environmental context offers an opportunity to tell the story of Maryland's native
ecosystems. Of the 111, 071.5 square feet of pervious surface, 85,411.82 square feet
consists of canopy (77% of pervious surface), making the area a good choice to
establish connection between the Wooded Hillock to the west and the Forest Wetland to
the east, and therefore, enhance the agroecology corridor. As the north gateway, the site
is a competitive candidate to showcase the university's agricultural legacy to the
community and demonstrate innovative techniques for managing stormwater and
climate change. The site also hosts the Chesapeake building, which staffs the
University's human resources department, playing an important role in helping to
achieve the university's teaching, research, and outreach missions. A better developed
site serves the staff better and symbolizes their supports of the university's values.

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Site Inventory and Analysis

WATER FLOW AND DRAINAGE

Stormwater from the forested hillock
drains to the site and is then channeled to
Paint Branch Stream (Figure 3). The site is
one part of a treatment train that
encompasses the northern part of campus.

Stormwater is conveyed from the site to
either a sand filter or a retention pond before
it makes its way to a bioswale and is then
conveyed to Paint Branch Stream via
underground pipes.

Stormwater flows from parking lot P2 to the
degraded sand filter, which causes frequent
maintenance issues (Figure 4). Since our site
is near a main campus gateway, stormwater
management should aspire to the same level of innovation as the greenest spots on
campus such as the LEAFHouse. The LEAFHouse is "a natural extension of the

University of Maryland's history of success in
integrated, innovative design" (LEAFHouse at
the University of Maryland / School of
Architecture, Planning & Preservation, n.d.).
The sand filter is an industrial way of treating
stormwater which conflicts with the north
side's green stormwater management style,
which is both effective and artful. Besides, the
sand filter experiences issues with
accumulation of trash and sedimentation.

Stormwater from parking lots PI and
NN flow into inlets, which convey water to a
retention pond to the south of the site before
entering Campus Creek. During intense rain
events, the retention pond experiences issues
with overflow.

SOIL

Because of the construction activities and environmental interactions, the soil
types on the site are very diverse (Figure 5). They consist of 69% class B soil, 10% class
C soil, and 21 percent class D soil (NRCS, n.d.).

Figure 3: Water flows from the site to a
bioswale before entering the Paint Branch

Figure 4. Water from parking lots P1 and
NN drains into a retention pond; water from
parking lot P2 flows into the sand filter.

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In addition to quantifying the hydrological soil groups on the site, the team also
analyzed the structure of the soil just north of the Chesapeake Building (soil test 1) and
the northern tip of the site (soil test 2) to determine if the soil is suitable for any form of
agriculture (Figure 5). The first soil test indicates slightly alkaline soil with a moderate
amount of organic matter and organic carbon. The high amount of clay and higher pH of
the second soil test corresponds to the site's prior use as a residential area (Table 1).
This area is most likely in need of a soil amendment to increase its organic matter and
carbon content.

est 2 Result
Loam

22%

7.26
21.7%
6.28%
3.65%

NA

VEGETATION

The three parking lots are currently greened by narrow turf strips and small turf
islands, with only 4 trees within the lot areas. The wooded hillock, which contains a wide
variety of diverse, woody plants, stands in sharp contrast to the barren parking lot
(Table 2), providing high ecological values.

However, due to lack of maintenance, the invasive species are concentrated in
the small patch of trees next to the Chesapeake building (Table x). Although providing
eye-catching colors, the burning bush used as a hedge along the entrance to the parking
lot P1,that acts as a gateway to an area representing multiple native habitats of
Maryland, conflicts with the north district's native, regionally appropriate plant palette.

Native

Non-Native

Persimmon (Diospyros Virginiana)

Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

American Sycamore (Platanus Occidentalis)
American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)

American Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
Mockernut Hickory (Carya tomentosa)
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)

Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)

Amur Honeysuckle (Lonicera Maackii)
Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)

Tree Of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
Porcelain Berry (Ampelopsis glandulosa )
Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)

Table 2: Existing Plant Inventory

TEMPERATURE

The three parking lots contribute to the urban heat island effect. According to
data collected from students in the Department of Environmental Science and

Test Item

Soil Test 1 Result Soil T

A • Soil test 1
• Soil test 2

Soil classification at surface	Loam

Clay content	17%

pH	6.68

Water content (%)	22.9%

% Organic matter	8.13%

% Organic carbon estimate	4.73%

Average Water Infiltration Rate	3.25 in/hr

Figure 5: Soil Analysis Table 1: Soil Test Results

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Technology on Nov. 1st, the average temperature of the asphalt, which is 70.29 degree
F, and concrete, which is 71.24 degree F, are much higher than vegetated area, which is
52.39 degree F.

According to the USDA, a large portion of southern Maryland is projected to
transition to zone 8, which includes Prince George's County in which the site belongs. It
can be assumed this will intensify the urban heat island effect, making it more urgent
that unnecessary impervious surfaces should be replaced with vegetation or other less
heat absorbing surfaces.

PARTICIPATORY PREFERENCE SURVEY

To serve the staff of the
Chesapeake building better, a survey,
which gained a total of 72-
responses, was conducted via
Qualtrics to collect information about
their preference for future
sustainable development. The survey
displayed three images of design
elements and experiences that might
be suitable for the site and asked
respondents to choose their preferred
images of each category, including
rain gardens, pollinator gardens, permeable pavements, campus gateways, solar panels,
and food forests (Chart 1).

The results showed that the images incorporating green techniques with eye-
catching designs are preferred, encouraging the design team to focus on both practical
and aesthetic values.

Project Goals

Our design team seeks to honor the University's commitment to addressing
stormwater management and climate change, and to promote the natural beauty and
ecological values of the surrounding regional context. After the careful site inventory
and analysis, studying the University's climate initiative, meeting with design advisors,
and analyzing the results of the survey, the team proposed a design that prioritizes the
following goals:

1: Provide ECOLOGICAL benefits by addressing climate change, providing green
infrastructure, and increasing vegetative cover.

Survey Results

70%
50%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%

III Li III ill iL III

J* / / /

/ J? / V
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2: Create EDUCATIONAL space for the site and connect it to the agroecology corridor
by providing research opportunities and environmental education.

3: Increase ECONOMIC benefits via renewable energy production, food production, and
cost savings with stormwater fee reduction and carbon sequestration.

4: Provide SOCIAL benefits by enhancing the northern gateway and fostering
community engagement.

Design Solutions

240 ft

tfl

LEGEND

1. Gateway Signage

2. Apple Orchard

3. Meadow

4. Rain Garden

5. Gathering Plaza

6. Bioswale

7. Shrubland

8. Persimmon Orchard

9. Eco-Friendly Garage

10. Pollinator Garden

11. Bio-paddies

12. Secondary Signage

13. Green Roof with Solar Panels

14. Reforestation

Figure 6; Site Plan

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ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS

The application is designed to address the stormwater management goals by
proposing a garage to reduce surface parking and transforming the 4.96-acre site into a
stormwater treatment, harvesting, and usage system, which reduces the impervious
surface from 47.37% a 11.38%. The programs include 31,200 sq ft of green roof area
that drains to a 196 sq ft bioretention and two 5,000 gallons cistern for irrigating the
25,100 sq ft orchards; an 1,800 sq ft bioswale to infiltrate stormwater from the sidewalk;
1520 sq ft of sub-raingardens and 1600 sq ft of permeable pavement in the main
gathering space; and a 35,000 sq ft reforestation area,

Eco-Friendly Garage

The first step proposed in our design is to introduce a new 3-story parking garage,
labeled as Location 9 in Figure 6, that is able to accommodate 200 cars to replace the
existing large parking lots. The parking lot is designed to be eco-friendly, with green
roofs, solar panels, and a Vehicle-to-building (V2B) energy management system
equipped. It makes the rest of landscaping redesign possible, as well as contributing to
green energy saving and generation.

Green Roof

Green roofs produce stormwater benefits, mitigate the heat island effect,
increase the lifespan of roofing membranes, saving the building cooling/heating costs,
and reduce air pollution. Air pollution such as ozone and small particulate matter less
than 10 micrometers (PM-10) cause respiratory and cardiovascular health issues.
Nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide also cause respiratory problems such as asthma.
Plants on green roofs reduce these pollutants by collecting them in their tissues,
intercepting small particles in the air, and reduce photochemical reactions that produce
ozone by providing shade.

With the existing Chesapeake building and the proposed garage, about 34,000 sq
ft of flat roof space will be exposed to sunlight and can be used for green roofs. We
plan to cover the Chesapeake building with 12,500 sq ft extensive green roofs (soil
depth with less than 15 cm) and the garage with 18,700 sq ft-18, 000 sq ft extensive and
700 sq ft intensive (soil depth greater than 15 cm) for pedestrian access - labeled as
Location 13 (Rowe, 2011). Besides, the infiltrated water is designed to be collected by a
196 sq ft bioretention which is designed to treat 216 cubic feet of stormwater, labeled
as Location 11, and two cisterns that connect to the persimmon and apple orchards for
dripping irrigation.

rden

Rain gardens is one of the most popular green infrastructures that facilitate
ground water recharge, provide wildlife habitat (Rain-Gardens-Across-Maryland.Pdf, n.d.),
reduce pollutant loading (Li & Davis, 2009), and beautify the environment. A study of two

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rain gardens in College Park and Silver Spring showed a reduction of pollutants in runoff
such as total suspended solids (TSS), chromium, lead and zinc (Li & Davis, 2009).

Location 4 is transformed into a rain garden learning and relaxing area. It
includes four sub rain gardens ranging from 300-400 sq ft. Correspond to the ESD
Design Guideline, the rain gardens are designed to have a 6-inch ponding depth (ESD
Design Guidline.Pdf, n.d.). The soil of the rain garden is composed of loamy sand (60-
65%), and compost (35% or 40%). Plants are carefully selected to be able to tolerate
both wet and dry conditions. The rain gardens are designed to capturel 672 cubic feet
of surface runoff from the main community gathering space, labeled as Location 5.

Bios wale

Bioswales are swales made from engineered soil and vegetation (Xiao &
McPherson, 2011). The engineered soil consists of rock and loam soil to maximize
porosity. Unlike traditional swales, bioswales infiltrate more stormwater and remove
more pollutants. A study in California analyzing pollutant load reduction and stormwater
runoff in two parking lots, one with a bioswale and one without, found the bioswale
reduced runoff by 88%, nitrogen by 97%, iron by 87%. The bioswale reduced "metals,
minerals, organic carbon and solids 95%, 87%, 95%, and 95% respectively".

In our design, we propose an 8-ft wide bioswale at Location 6 to replace the sand
filter next to Paint Branch Drive to collect about 680 cubic ft surface runoff from the
surrounding area, including the sidewalk, which is currently drained to the Paint Branch
Drive. Since there's no strict design guidelines exist for bioswales in Prince George's
County or Maryland, our design follows Montgomery County standards to include "a
vegetated surface, a 2 foot planting media layer, a 6 inch think sand layer, and a 12 inch
gravel underdrain layer" (Bio Swale.Pdf, n.d.). A 5-ft buffer is also proposed by the
sidewalk for erosion control.

Permeable Pavement

Permeable paving, like rain gardens and bioswales, infiltrate stormwater and
reduce pollutant loading. They can reduce TSS, E.Coli, phosphorous, ammonia, and also
loads of copper and zinc (Abdollahian et al., 2018; Fassman & Blackbourn, 2011).

Our design incorporates permeable paving in the proposed gathering space next
to the plant walk. Therefore, stormwater can be infiltrated before flowing into the
proposed planting area to minimize pollution and the rain garden system will be less
likely to be overloaded during intense rain events. The 1602.68 square feet of
permeable paving treats 162 cubic feet of storm water.

Reforestation

According to Maryland's 2030 greenhouse gas reduction act plan, forests provide
carbon sequestration and economic benefits in the form of wood products (Greenhouse

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Gas Emissions Reduction Act Plan, n.d.). By 2030, the state plans to provide
"afforestation or reforestation" to 68, 530 acres of land. The state also plans on planting
4.6 million trees, 2.5 million of which are urban. In the form of stormwater management,
trees provide environmental benefits by intercepting rainfall, increasing the soil's water-
holding capacity, and promoting water retention(l/nban Forest Systems and Green
Stormwater Infrastructure, n.d.).

At Location 14, where is the edge of the Wooded Hillock and has minimum
impact on circulation, we proposed to replace the parking space with 35,000 sq ft
reforestation. According to iTree (a software developed by the USDA forest Service that
quantifies the benefits of trees), in 30 years, our design's reforestation will intercept 1,
934, 069 338 gallons of stormwater runoff. Because the upland forest simulates a
forest ecosystem similar to the Piedmont in which American Beech tends to be the
climax species, the reforested area south of the site is comprised of regionally
appropriate vegetation, such as American beech and red oak, two species commonly
associated with each other ((SWAP_Chapter4.Pdf, n.d.). Beech nuts are highly attractive
to "deer, squirrels, chipmunks, mice, raccoons" and other wildlife, providing habitats and
foods to them, and therefore, providing considerable ecological values (Looking for
American Beech, 2019)

EDUCA1 IITIES

To promote the educational opportunities for the students and staff as well as
the local community, we propose to maximize the accessibility of each green
infrastructure, highlight the current agricultural research and new technologies, and
showcase the knowledge by adding introductive signages.

Accessible Green Infrastructure

The prementioned stormwater management infrastructures are all designed to
be accessible. A 2,800 sq ft outdoor classroom is design within the green roof area
above the garage (Location 13), with 2/3 of it shaded by the solar panels to increase
comfort during the hot seasons. Decks connected by wooden corridor and equipped
with benches are included in the rain garden area for visitors to wander around, observe,
learn, and relax (Location 4). Each deck is designed to be around a river birch (Betula
nigra) as a natural shading structure. With the 5-ft buffer designed for the bioswale
(Location 6), pedestrians are also provided with the change to sit down and take a
closer look at the microecosystems within the swale.

Antietam Blush® Apple Orchard

Antietam Blush® apple, developed by Dr. Christopher Walsh and former graduate
student Julia Harshman from the UMD's Department of Plant Science and Landscape
Architecture, is the University's first-ever patent apple and Maryland's first-ever native
apple variety (Antietam Blush, Maryland's First Native Apple, To Debut In A Few Years,

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2019). Besides their small, compact size that makes them suitable for small, enclosed
spaces, the apple is a disease resistant dwarf cultivar with "stronger tree architecture
for easier maintenance and harvesting" (27 Years in the Making, UMD Releases Multiple
New Apple Varieties Starting with the Harvest of Antietam Blush | College of Agriculture
& Natural Resources, University of Maryland, n.d.) and is "bred specifically for the
climate and growing culture of the Mid-Atlantic region".

We proposed to grow about 70 Antietam Blush® apple in the orchard labeled as
Location 2 to honor the great researchers from the UMD as well as highlight UMD's
history as an Agricultural College.

Introductive Signages

Considering the variety of the users, we suggested to add signages to the
important spots where the advanced technologies and green infrastructures are
prioritized, and the visitors need to be guided. Five spots are chosen to locate the
signages, including the apple orchard (Location 2), the rain garden (Location 4), the
southeast corner of the site, labeled as Location 12, - a overall introduction of the site
for visitors' way finding, the persimmon orchard on Location 8 - the introduction of the
gravity dripping irrigation system, and by the garage (Location 9) - the knowledge about
the Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) energy management system.

ECONOMIC BENE

In addition to the ecological values, our design also provides more tangible
benefits by saving the potential electricity and natural gas usage of the Chesapeake
building, generating new energy with green technologies, sequestrating carbon
emissions, and producing foods for the community.

Green Roof wil r Panels

The areas of solar panels installed on the roofs of the garage and Chesapeake
building (Location 13) are 9,800 sq ft and 3,300 sq ft, respectively. Unlike the traditional
solar panel installation, our solar panels are combined with green roofs, which enhances
the performance of solar panels and reduce the heat island effects produced by the
solar panels, according to a study by Peter Irga from the University of Technology
Sydney, Australia - green roofs improved the performance of solar panels by 20 percent
at peak times and 3.6% over the duration of the experiment (8 months) ("Study Finds
Green Roofs Make Solar Panels More Efficient," 2021).

Energy generated by the solar panels can be used by the Chesapeake building
and electric vehicle charging. Based on the footprint of Chesapeake building, the solar
panels, which has the potential to generate 70,686 kWh electricity annually, offsets
about 8.66% of the building's electricity use. The green roof underneath can also help

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with offset the electricity for cooling in summer and natural gas for heating in winter by
a total of 3.17%.

Vehicle to Building (V2B) Technique

With the energy supplied by the solar panels, which is enough to charge 2,356
cars, allowing them to travel 100 miles, the parking garage also incorporates the new
concept of V2B energy management technique, which helps to offset peak pricing,
lower energy costs, and maximize the use of the produced solar power. Instead of using
traditional batteries for storage, V2B uses the electric vehicle to store the electricity
generated with solar power during the day. This stored energy can be utilized at night or
sold during peak load hours when there's any spare ("How Vehicle-to-Building Charging
Can Save Costs, Reduce GHGs and Balance the Grid," 2020). In addition to the cut down
on the building's energy costs, vehicle owners may be reimbursed, which benefits both
the developers and the users.

Gravity Dripping Irrigation

According to the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT), the green roofs are
able to retain about 60% of the stormwater, while the rest 40% will be infiltrated(The
Value of Green Infrastructure, 2011). Besides, due to the structures of the Chesapeake
building's roof, which cannot be covered with green roofs, and the paved roof top
classroom on the proposed garage, there will be a total amount of the 409054-gallon
stormwater leaving the roofs. Instead of letting them to flow away, we include a 5000-
gallon cistern by each of the two buildings and connect them to the drip irrigation
systems of the two orchards. Taking advantage of the existing 10-ft elevation difference
between Lot NN - where the proposed garage is located (Location 9), and the proposed
persimmon orchard, more than 565 KJ energy can be saved with the gravity dripping
irrigation system for the irrigation per cistern.

Carbon Sequestration

With the vegetations added, the proposed design is able to sequestrate a large
amount of carbon, and therefore, contributes to economic benefits. According to iTree,
in the next 30 years the proposed trees in our design can reduce 325,360 lbs of
atmospheric carbon dioxide through C02, bringing cost savings of $7,567. Combined
with the benefits created by the green roofs in 30 years, including the 114,394 lbs C
sequestration, 933,261 lbs C02 avoidance by electricity use reduction, and 268,719 lbs
by natural gas use reduction, the site is able to sequestrate 1,641,731 lbs C02 totally in
30 years, equals to $17,519 savings at the lower bound to $ 58,379 savings at the higher
bound (The Value of Green Infrastructure, 2011).

Food Production

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Besides the prementioned apple orchard, the design also includes an 8,600 sq ft
persimmon orchard, labeled as Location 8. About 20 American persimmon (Diospyros
virginiana), known for their sweet fruits they drop in autumn, will be planted. The apple
orchard produces 5,280 lbs fruit annually which can be sold for $6, 969.6. The
persimmon orchard has a yield of 2752 lbs, which can be sold for $12, 033.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

As an application designed to promote the gateway experience and enhance the bound
between and UMD and its surrounding community, various measures are included to
highlight the site and to improve users' experience.

The Gateway by the Orchard

Currently, the site is not visible enough to the local community as well as the
drivers and pedestrians coming from the University Blvd East and the Paint Branch
Drive. Taking advantage of the site location, our design will increase the use of the north
gateway by transforming it to a destination space. A new gateway with the UMD logo
and attractive planting at the bottom is proposed to increase the visibility of the site,
labeled as Location 1. The apple orchard, standing like lines of solders behind also
become an eye-catching landscape.

The Plant Walk and the Gathering Space

A plant walk with vegetation transition from meadow, labeled as Location 3, to
shrubland, labeled as Location 7, to the existing wood land is designed to create visual
interests and tell the story of ecological transition. They are by the side of a community
gathering space on Location 5, with an artful tensile shading structure, bike racks, tables,
and benches. Before the proposed interventions, neither the staff of the Chesapeake
building nor the community had opportunity to use the outdoor space other than for
parking. With our design, now they can stroll through the plant walk and the rain garden,
enjoying the wildlife these spaces attract. The community can use the space to celebrate
harvesting season as well.

PERFORMANCE

The design reduces the amount of rainfall to be treated to achieve "woods in
good condition" by 61 % compared with the pre-design condition, with an amount of
4,604 cu ft. With all the green infrastructure, 6,790 cu ft stormwater on site can be
treated for the 1-year 24-hour rain event (2.7 inches), 1.5 times as the required by State
law. 67,242.5 cu ft stormwater can be harvested for irrigation annually, sufficiently
supporting the growth of the proposed orchards.

According to iTree, in 30 years, our design's reforestation will provide total
benefits of $15,702. $3, 021 of this is saved by intercepting 1,934, 069 338 gallons of
stormwater runoff. Another $3,358 is saved by air quality benefits such as reducing

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ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter. This decreases air
temperature and reduces heating costs. $7, 567 is saved by capturing carbon dioxide
via sequestration. The money saved comes decreased "energy production and
emissions". The remaining $1, 524 is saved by summer heating savings and $233 by
winter heating savings.

After our proposed design, the ground average temperature is estimated to
change from 60.31 degree F to 54.53 degree F, a temperature decrease of 5.78 degree
F.

By redesigning the site, the pollutant loads are also deducted a lot compared with
the pre-designed site (Table 3) (The Simple Method to Calculate Urban Stormwater
Loads, n.d.).

Load Type

TSS (mg/l)

TP (mg/l)

TN (mg/l)

Cu (mg/l)

Pb (mg/l)

Zn (mg/l)

Before

106.80

0.54

7.00

208.74

110.44

723.76

After

28.34

0.01

0.16

70.77

22.98

216.29

Reduction

78.46

0.53

6.84

137.97

87.46

507.47

73.46%

97.98%

97.68%

66.10%

79.19%

70.12%

Table 3: Pollutant Load Reduction

PROJECT PHASING

Phase

Years

Time

Description

1-year

Present design to the staff of the Chesapeake building and to
the University for feedback.

2-years

Apply for funding from available grant: and search for
dcnors.

5-months

Begin the permitting process for constuction

2-years

Construct the parking garage and green roof of the
Chesapeake building.

1-year

Install the apple orchard and persimmon orchard.

1-year

install the rain garden, bioswale, and the other planted areas
around the Chesapeake building, construct the gateway
entrance, and demolish parking lot PI.

1-year

Reforestation

III

1-year

Construct the plant walk, gathering space, boardwalk for the
rain garden and install the shade structure

1-year

Install the ineadcv.1 and shrubland along the plant walk

COST AND MAINTENANCE

Development in Prince George's County, Maryland, can be expensive, especially
when a high-quality installation and maintenance is expected. Nevertheless, the UMD,
the surrounding community, and the ecosystem will benefit from the proposed design in
a long run. Exclude the $4,000,000 parking garage, the capital cost is showed in Table 4,
along with a 15 percent contingency, adding up to $4,105,058.

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Table 4: Capital Cost

Item

Quantity

Unit

Cost/Unit

Total

Demolition of Asphalt/Concrete

88255

Sq. Ft

$706,040

Rain Garden

1520

Sq. Ft

$16

$24,320

Extensive Green Roof

31200

Sq. Ft

$16

$499,200

Permeable Pavement

1603

Sq. Ft

$32

$51,296

Bioswales

3123

Sq. Ft

$20

$62,460

Fruit Tree Planting & Establishment

25100

Sq. Ft

$20

$502,000

Concrete Pavement

8308

Sq. Ft

$16

$132,928

Solar Panel

182550

$401,610

Meadow Planting

15000

Sq. Ft

$16

$240,000

Shrub Planting & Establishment

7460

Sq. Ft

$19

$138,010

Bike Rack

$1,000

Linear

Gateway Brick Wall

$250

$22,500

Interpretive Signage

$300

$1,500

Biopaddies

197

Sq. Ft

$16

$3,152

Reforestation

35000

Sq. Ft

$20

$700,000

Cistern

$5,000

$10,000

Table with Chairs

$1,500

$4,500

Bench

$820

$4,100

Customized Shading Structure

$40,000

Deck

1000

Sq. Ft

$25

$25,000

SUBTOTAL

$3,569,616

15% Contingency

$535,442

TOTAL

$4,105,058

Table 5: Maintenance Cost

Item

Quantity

Unit

Cost/Unit

Total

Rain Garden

Hr.

$30 $960

Extensive Green Roof

31200

Sq. Ft

$2 $46,800

Permeable Pavement

1603

Sq. Ft

$4 $6,412

Bioswales

Sq. Ft

$30 $480

Fruit Tree Planting & Establishment

$251 $22,590

Solar Panel

524

$10 $5,240

Meadow Planting

Hr.

$30 $240

Shrub Planting & Establishment

Hr.

$75 $300

Biopaddies

Hr.

$30 $960

SUBTOTAL $83,982

15% Contigency $12,597

TOTAL $96,579

FUNDING

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This project is eligible for a variety of funding sources. One such source is the
Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration program offered by the National Fish and
Wildlife Foundation. This program offers $225, 000 to eligible participants such as
educational institutions who initiate projects involving forest restoration. Our design
includes reforestation and contributes to the health of the Anacostia watershed, which
correspond to its requirement of "address key species and habitats and link directly to
established watershed and conservation plans including establishment of wildlife
corridors" (Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program, n.d.). They also need
to include community engagement with an educational focus, which also suits our
design quite well. The Maryland Beautiful Grant Program also provides funding from
The Environmental Education, Community Initiatives and Cleanup Grants. According to
the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, "These grants are available to
nonprofits, schools and municipalities who initiate environmental education projects,
community engagement and neighborhood greening activities." Under this program, the
project is eligible for the Citizen Stewardship Grant, which grants up to $5,000 to
schools who intend to engage the community ("especially children") in environmental
education. Another source of funding is the Stormwater Management Retrofit Program
offered by Prince George's County. The purpose of the program is to fund "on-the
ground restoration and program activities that improve communities and water quality".
Grant amounts for projects in the past have totaled $2, 051, 010. Finally, the 319 Grant
Program for States and Territories provides funding for States that supports
demonstration projects that help manage nonpoint source pollution. The amount of
funding is ample with available money totaling $172.3 million in 2020.

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