ECT’s client, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, was featured in Crain’s Detroit Business for leading the way in implementing campus-wide green stormwater infrastructure innovations. The article describes how the museum installed decorative permeable pavers in the main entry drop-off and their parking lot – both designed to store water underneath the hardscape and increase infiltration. With climate change and projected rainfall increases, green stormwater approaches are expected to play an increasingly important role as institutions and municipalities seek to manage stormwater on site. The green stormwater infrastructure solutions at the Wright Museum decreased their stormwater drainage costs – saving the museum money in the long run.
Click here to view the article on the Crain’s Detroit Business website. Note: a subscription is required to view the article.
The museum’s environmental innovation projects are part of a larger Green Initiatives Master Plan, led by ECT’s Patrick Judd, PLA. The Plan aims to reduce the burden on Detroit’s combined sewer system, provide a sustainability framework, and honor the museum’s institutional leadership on African American history, culture, and traditions. The project team used a culture-first approach to design with a focus on water, energy, and waste. In the fall 2020, the Wright Museum received a Merit Award for its Green Initiatives Master Plan from the Michigan Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects.
To learn more about the Wright’s Green Initiatives Master Plan contact Patrick Judd.
