ARMC has recently been awarded two prestigious awards from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) – a Wisconsin-ASLA Merit Award in the General Design Category and a Minnesota-ASLA Honor Award in the Private Landscape Design Category for their sustainable landscape design.

Reflecting the client’s mission “to provide … quality healthcare and to promote the health and wellness of our community,” this project incorporated low-impact development (LID) principles and sustainable stormwater management techniques. These techniques included: prairie restorations, the use of native plants, raingardens, green roofs, and pervious surfaces, all of which aid in protecting the Apple River and the local environment.

The fully-integrated design approach also incorporated educational signage, a raptor nesting pole, and an interpretative nature trail that wanders through the protected woodlands to a contemplative rest area overlooking the river for the community to enjoy. This project has increased the community’s environmental awareness and holistic health, while providing a regional and national precedence for the adoption of sustainable site design and landscape architecture.

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. (EOR) worked with ARMC and the design team to provide integrated stormwater management and sustainable site design. Landscape Architects included Kevin Biehn, ASLA, LEED AP and Brad Aldrich, ASLA, LEED AP of EOR, Project Architect was Gresham Smith and Partners, and Kraus-Anderson served as the project’s General Contractor.

EOR is an environmental and multi-disciplinary engineering consulting firm that specializes in the fields of sustainable site design and landscape architecture, water resources engineering and watershed planning, and ecosystem restoration and conservation. EOR is focused on protecting our water resources, restoring healthy ecosystems, and fostering a unique sense of place for local communities. For more information about EOR see www.eorinc.com, to see more ARMC project highlights go to: www.eorinc.com/sustainable-site-design-low-impact.php

ASLA is a national organization with more than 18,000 members among its state chapters. As a licensed profession, landscape architecture encompasses the analysis, planning, design, management, and stewardship of the natural and built environments. Landscape Architectural projects range from academic campuses, conservation and natural areas, historic landscapes, parks and recreation, transportation corridors, urban design, water resources, and commercial and residential properties. To learn more about landscape architecture online visit www.asla.org.