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| Construction Methods & Materials |
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The goal to leave landscape visually unimpaired after development
drives the need to find new methods of management, new techniques,
and constant reevaluation of every method and material use. For the
project to be successful, there should be no residual signs of
construction, and environmental damage should not be permitted.
Through a network of organizations, sources of nontoxic, renewable
or recyclable, and environmentally responsive building products are
available to use when specifying materials. Certain site design
strategies may be discouraged based on the probable environmental
impacts of the construction methods necessary to build them.
- Keep land disturbance to a minimum and retain prime vegetation features
to the extent possible.
- Reduce building and paving footprints.
- Limit site disturbance to a minimal area around the building
perimeter, including locating buildings adjacent to existing
infrastructure.
- Plan construction staging areas with the
environment in mind.
- In northern climates, site parking and
pedestrian areas so that they have sun exposure for assistance in
melting the snow or ice.
- Use non-toxic snow and ice removal
methods.
- Fence undisturbed soil and vegetation located outside
specifically designated construction limits.
- Plan material staging
for areas in conjunction with future facilities.
- Where disturbance
occurs, the site should be restored as soon as possible.
- Stockpiling topsoil from the construction area area allows the material to be used in site restoration.
- Flexibility in revising construction
plans should be allowed to change materials and construction methods
based on actual site impacts.
- Throughout construction, resource
indicators should be monitored to ensure that resources are not
being adversely affected.
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