Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center: Phase I Landscape

Challenge

Local regulations dictated a strict guideline for the landscape architect to work within when designing the parking lot and landscaped areas: the ratio of impervious to pervious surface could not increase from the existing condition. This meant that 70% of the site had to remain pervious, while still accommodating a substantial amount of new parking and outdoor facilities.

Solution

The design managed to increase close to 1% of pervious surfaces within Phase I by increasing the amount of operative landscape areas for conducting research. The increase in perviousness will help reduce some risks of stormwater runoff overflow and may serve as a scheme in connection to the future developments of Phase II and III. Through careful design, the landscape architect was able to balance the design program needs to ensure compliance with local regulations.

• The site design increased functional open space by approximately 34% with roughly 2 acres of landscape that has easy pedestrian access to conduct research, host events, and sit.
• Runoff from the roof, road, parking lot, and hardscape surfaces is collected and managed through a network of catch basins and infiltration trenches. When the quantity of rainfall is large, or the duration of storm is extended, the runoff can be stored in two detention basins, where it slowly percolates into the soil or evaporates.
• The center contains 8,354 sf of secured outdoor land-based coral nursery areas. Corals are cultured in 18 tanks ranging from 80 gal to 1,000 gal. When specimens grown on site reach an appropriate size and age, they are then transplanted to reefs in the ocean. Coral reefs play an important role as natural barriers that help protect coastal cities from the impacts of storm surge. They also support an estimated 25% of all marine life.
• 209 new trees were added in a variety of native species, including gumbo limbos, cabbage palms, silver buttonwoods, and live oaks. 45 existing trees were removed to thier poor condition.
• The design incorporates small recycled fragments of coral skeletons and glass into walkways, walls, and pre-cast materials. These cover 15,100 sf or 5.8% of the site and serve both decorative and educational purposes.
• Durable materials such as reinforced concrete paving, 14 steel benches, and an aluminum bike rack were chosen to withstand ocean salt spray, winds, and the severe weather events that periodically affect South Florida’s coastal areas. These materials will not corrode or degrade quickly.
• The parking lot provides spaces for both the university and state park visitors. Because peak demand for each occurs at different times, the shared parking allowed the total number of parking spaces to be reduced.

• The use of an efficient irrigation system reduces potable water consumption by 82,750 gallons annually as compared to a conventional irrigation system. This saves approximately $800 in annual irrigation water costs.
• By creating a shared parking lot, Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center and the State Park save on installation and maintenance costs. If a second 127-space parking lot were needed, it would cost approximately $381,000 to install and $38,100 to maintain with a surface asphalt overlay ever 8-15 years.

• Fairly uncommon for a project of this scale, the landscape architect led the master planning and coordinated several internal and public meetings with the facility’s scientists, faculty, students, researchers, and community during the planning and preliminary design phase. This stakeholder involvement played a key role in the redevelopment of the campus, transforming it into a highly respected facility for coral reef ecosystem research.
• The project was initially proposed as a whole but later divided into three phases in order to better utilize funds as they became available and address the needs of the primary users in order of demand. The success of phase one has led to the development of the two additional phases.

Irrigation: Rainbird
Furniture: Landscape Forms
Plants: Aucamp’s Nursery
Hardscape: Hanson Pavers (Oldcastle)
Lighting: Spectra Lighting, Cyclone Lighting, Hunza Lighting

Project Team

Landscape Architect: EDSA, Inc.
Owner: Nova Southeastern University
Design-Builder: Moss/Miller, LLC
Architect: Cannon Design ACAI Associates, Inc.
Engineers: Cannon Design, Craven Thompson & Associates, Inc. Bliss & Nyitray, Inc.
Specialty Consultant: Tenji, Inc. Cannon Design Dunkelberger Engineering & Testing, Inc.
Specialty Contractor: JD Backhoe
Other Key Professionals: Lotspeich Company of Florida, Inc., Summers Fire Sprinklers, Inc., Right Way Plumbing Company, Hill York Service Corporation Crawford Tracey Corporation Baker Concrete Construction C. Davis Electric Co., Inc.

Role of the Landscape Architect

The landscape architect led in the development of the master plan and landscape design of the Oceanographic Center. EDSA also initiated and developed the grant submittal for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) grant that funded the center’s redevelopment. NIST awarded the project $15 million, which was the maximum amount given in its nationwide competition. Additionally, the landscape architect served as the university’s representative in coordinating with federal, state, and local jurisdictions during the development, design, and construction of the center. Since 1992, EDSA has provided master planning, design, and construction administration services for the university.