Environmental Innovation Center recognized for SWA’s landscape architecture

The Northern California Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects this week awarded the San Jose Environmental Innovation Center project with a Merit Award for Design.

As part of the adaptive reuse of a former wax paper manufacturing plant into a materials recycling and green technology research incubator, SWA Group worked with Group 4 to introduce innovative, LEED-Platinum-worthy site improvements across the project’s five acres.

The ALSA-NCC award describes the site design as a “prototype for responsible site development showcasing a myriad of sustainable design features and technologies including an interpretive art piece referencing the agricultural heritage of the area.” Other sustainable site design elements include stormwater-cleansing bioswales, native/drought-tolerant plantings, reclaimed and pervious paving, demonstration below-grade Silva cells giving street tree roots more real estate, and a native sycamore bosque!

The City of San Jose has also installed signage identifying the project’s sustainable design features.