From Brownfield to Greenfield

Wellesley, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Project Facts

  • The Alumnae Valley landscape represents the reworking of 13.5 acres of Wellesley College’s campus over a seven-year period.
  • The project transforms a 175-space parking lot that covered toxic dirt into a functioning wetland.
  • The original landscape was shaped by ice-age glaciers. Earth mound designs along paths mimic the original sculpting of the land while storing remediated soil.
  • Almost immediately after construction of the wetland area, meadows appeared and cattails sprouted along the water.

PROJECT TYPE

  • Campus
  • Brownfield
  • Re-development plan
  • University

Environmental Benefits

  • Captures Water
  • Cleans Water
  • Cools Air Temperature
  • Creates Habitat for Wildlife
  • Improves Soil Health
  • Prevents Soil Erosion
  • Protects Water Supply
  • Reduces Site’s Carbon Footprint
  • Reduces Urban Heat
  • Removes Toxic Chemicals

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