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McKinley High School, Buffalo, NY

6/10/2015

Quantifying environmental, social, and economic benefits of landscapes is increasingly important for design professionals. The Landscape Performance Series first mentioned on PaveShare last October features case studies of LAF-funded student-faculty research teams that document performance benefits of exemplary projects.

At McKinley High School in Buffalo, NY, permeable pavers, rain gardens, a green roof, and retention cistern contributed to reducing stormwater run-off as part of a 2014 school renovation. Permeable pavers were responsible for nearly 20% of the overall reduction in stormwater run-off. Explore details of this 2014 project, and similar case studies at the Landscape Architecture Foundation.

Toomer's Corner, Auburn University

5/9/2015

This summer Auburn University's iconic Toomer's Corner will undergo major reconstruction and regrading with a new paver-inlaid tiger paw replacing the painted tiger paw in the center of the intersection. City engineer Jeff Ramsey designed the reconstruction, and said it was important to create a plaza feel for the intersection by making the roadway flush with the sidewalks. Along with the durability and low cost, the entirely permeable intersection diminishes concerns of focusing stormwater to drain inlets with the new raised, flat intersection. Read more about the intersection improvements here.

Shared Streets, Uptown, Chicago

3/31/2015

The power of concrete pavers is prominent in America's most recent innovative street designs. Following the first "shared street" project at Bell Street in Seattle completed last Spring, Argyle Street in Uptown, Chicago is the latest project challenging conventional street design in America through the "shared streets" approach. By eliminating curbs, creating a uniform street and sidewalk level, and reducing traffic speeds, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists must share space, encouraging communication and resulting in fewer collisions.

The Argyle Streetscape project utilizes different paver textures and colors to delineate areas for pedestrians, bikers and drivers, while also providing infiltration areas and design opportunities. PaveShare is excited to see this innovative use of pavers and will be tracking this project planned for completion later this year.

Learn more about the variety of paver elements in the Argyle Streetscape and similar projects here.

Greensburg, KS Sustainable Streetscape

3/24/2015

Following the devastating tornado in 2007, residents of Greensburg, Kansas developed an ambitious Sustainable Comprehensive Plan to rebuild a town that could sustain itself for generations. Completing the Downtown Streetscape project was critical to regenerating community and attracting commerce. With 22 inches of precipitation a year, (in 4 rain events) efficient stormwater management drove the design process. Permeable pavers, native, drought-tolerant plantings, and stormwater reuse irrigation are just some of the sustainable design features along the “greenest Main Street in the United States. Learn more about this award-winning streetscape here.

Monk's Garden, Boston, Massachusetts

2/17/2015

The ASLA award-winning book, Monk's Garden, is an an excellent resource for design students and design thinking related to segmental paving. Through illustrating the design process of the Monk's Garden in Boston, Massachusetts from initial - even discarded- concepts to construction and built form, the authors provide a rare view of how an award-winning firm like MVVA cleverly use segmental pavers to create rich patterns of texture and color, to enrich the experience of a place, and to add a feeling of expansiveness to a
tight urban space.

Precedent: Westmoreland in Portland

1/7/2015

Ten years ago, Environmental Services of Portland, Oregon paved three blocks of streets in the Westmoreland neighborhood with permeable interlocking concrete pavement, the first use of this type of permeable paving material on a public street in the city. This project created 1,000 feet of permeable street surface, decreasing combined sewer overflows that occur during heavy precipitation events.

Visit the Westmoreland Case Study site to explore block-by-block installation of the project, and great construction sequence photos.

ICP / PICP Decision Tree

12/3/2014

The factors to consider in selecting between standard interlocking concrete pavers (ICPs) and permeable interlocking concrete pavers (PICPs) in design projects can be overwhelming. To help students make informed decisions about these systems, Paveshare has developed a graphic decision tree that details key considerations used to choose between ICPs and PICPs. Click the image to see the entire decision tree.

Landscape Performance Series

10/22/2014

October's Resource of the Month features the Landscape Architecture Foundation's Landscape Performance Series. The LPS consolidates information, innovation from professional practice, and research in a variety of forms to increase collective technical knowledge. Projects and links featured below showcase recent innovative solutions utilizing interlocking concrete pavers.
Landscape performance instruction is critical. For real instructional material, student deliverables and faculty reflections, Visit the Landscape Performance Series' resources for educators here.

Ephemeral Placemaking

10/3/2014

Stuart Jones, a graduate from the Master of Landscape Architecture program the University of Georgia, is the winner of the Fall 2014 Scholarship Raffle. Jones submitted his presentation, "Ephemeral Placemaking," via PaveShare's contribute page. His submission discusses a variety of digital tools used to quickly generate intricate paving patterns for use as civic art, increased safety, placemaking, and wayfinding.

Permeable Pavement

3/27/2014

Allen Pratt, a Master of Landscape Architecture Candidate at the University of Georgia, was the winner of the Fall 2013 Scholarship Raffle. Mr. Pratt entered his presentation, "Permeable Pavement," via PaveShare's contribute page. His work focuses on an overview of Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavements, which ranges from permeable paver benefits, paver types, and construction documentation.

Urban Heat Islands

1/22/2014

Interlocking Concrete Pavers can help reduce urban heat islands (thermal difference between urban and rural areas), while also minimizing the impacts on microclimates and wildlife habitats. This is accomplished through increased albedo (a measure of solar radiation reflected from a surface) or using a pavement system with less than 50% imperviousness.

Vacuuming a PICP System

1/22/2014

For permeable pavers with aggregate in the joints, pressure washing is not recommended, but vacuuming is an effective means of maintenance. For large sites, specialized vacuums are available; most small sites can be maintained with a heavy-duty shop vac. Some aggregate will be removed in the course of maintenance vacuuming and will need to be replaced properly. In the following video, participants took part in a live demonstration of a vacuum sweeper - revitalizing an 8 year old UNI-ECOLOC permeable pavement (PICP).

Precedent - Osseo, MN Streetscape

12/28/2013

The street is a balanced environment for pedestrians, bicyclists, and autos and offers flexible spaces that can be closed to vehicular traffic for community events. An important aspect of the project design was the ability to disassemble and reinstall it like a "kit of parts" to accommodate future redevelopment. Pavers are easy to install/uninstall/reinstall.

Precedent - Alleyway, Couch Place, Chicago

12/27/2013

Couch Place alleyway is a functioning service alley where garbage is collected and messenger bicyclists shortcut. Yet instead of cement, the alley is covered with permeable concrete pavers that reflect heat and reduce storm-water runoff, thereby preventing nearby properties from flooding and reducing the need for additional sewer infrastructure. The effect is a backstage area that’s bright, clean, and eco- and pedestrian-friendly. In addition, periodically throughout the year this alley turns into a place-making experience by transforming into a pop-up art gallery, used to celebrate art, music, fashion, design, and technology. It is Chicago's first "People Alley" public space.

Precedent - Sugar Beach, Toronto, Canada

12/27/2013

Formerly a surface parking lot in a faded industrial area, Canada’s Sugar Beach opened in August 2010 to become Toronto's second urban beach along the City's downtown shoreline. The larger portion of the promenade is paved with interlocking pavers to withstand heavier traffic and loads for delivery and maintenance trucks. Varying colors of pavers were used to create sugar maple leaf mosaics. In addition, Silva Cell infrastructure was placed underneath the permeable paver system in order to provide the necessary room for tree growth. Learn more about the Sugar Beach project here.

The Indianapolis Cultural Trail

12/19/2013

The next-gen in U.S. protected bike lanes, this 8-mile trail connects some of downtown Indy's most popular cultural institutions. The Indianapolis Cultural Trail is a prime example of a landscape "edge," which is often a linear interface between two spaces of a landscape that have different functions or physical characters. The trail, surfaced using interlocking concrete pavers, replaces what was once a brown field with a pedestrian friendly experience that includes bioswales for stormwater runoff. Read more about the Indianapolis Cultural Trail here or check out the video.

Precedent: Mary Bartelme Park, Chicago, IL.

12/18/2013

Various types of pavers are used throughout Mary Bartelme Park. Different colored pavers can function as way finding tools. The white pavers in the picture shown to the right provide for a transition in a space. Additionally, the white pavers used are TX Active permeable pavers. Sun rays activate the photocatalytic reaction within concrete made with TX Active and destroy organic and inorganic compounds before they have a chance to adhere to its surface. On a clear day the photocatalytic properties of the pavers clean the air, and on a rainy day their permeability allows stormwater to slowly percolate the system's surface recharging back into the ground.

Precedent - 7th St. Washington, D.C.

12/16/2013

The 7th street Eastern Market corridor serves as both a vehicular passageway and pedestrian plaza. The Eastern Market is a public market in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. The market extends to the public plaza, made up of pavers, on weekends when street thoroughfare in front is closed to vehicular traffic. Tents are set up and local venders, farmers, etc. are able to sell their goods. It is the neighborhood's town center, and a gathering place.

Case Study - Hong Kong Airport

12/10/2013

Hong Kong International Airport represents the largest single airfield installation of interlocking concrete pavements. Since most of the airport is on reclaimed land, anticipated settlement required that flexible asphalt pavement be used instead of rigid concrete for runways. Concrete pavers also provide a more fuel-resistant surface than asphalt.

Precedent - Labyrinth, Holzer Healing Center, Gallipolis, OH.

12/9/2013

The labyrinth was created for patients, families and staff as a place of meditation, prayer and reflection. The two varying pavers allow this space to be diverse in function. Different from a maze in that there are no dead-ends, users can navigate the labyrinth's path, which will eventually lead them to the center. The labyrinth also doubles as a courtyard in the center of the garden and serves as a gathering place for those who are healing from cancer. Users can also walk the labyrinth, which

LABash Design-Build Principles

9/20/2013

The University of Georgia hosted the annual LABash conference during Spring, 2013. At this event, a design competition was held that featured the installation of an interlocking concrete pavement. The pdf below depicts a below-surface “design” element (5 layers) that is an important general principle to be considered during initial conceptual design phases.

Architecture for Bicycles

9/13/2013

Copenhagen architecture firm, Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), used interlocking pavers as a means of wayfinding. The pavers make up a sloped ramp that goes from ground level to the individual buildings. This "street in the sky" provides for an easy access for bicyclists.

Types and Applications

5/14/2013

There are several different applications for the use of segmental concrete pavers. Both the solid interlocking pavers and the open grid pavers can be utilized in the applications, however, each of the two types have more common applications that they are typically associated with. The typical applications are separated by the type of paver and the list belowincludes the applications and some of their specific uses. Following this basic introduction to the various applications, each one will be expanded upon on the subsequent pages. Each of the uses contains design examples and diagrams that illustrate the design variety in their use. Portion of Harfmann/Day publication

Design Principles

5/14/2013

The common misconception about the topic of paving is that it is exclusively used for parking lots. In this section, two new concepts are introduced that redefine the way in which paving is viewed. The two major sections stimulate and promote thinking about the exterior horizontal surfaces in a non-traditional way and presents diagrams and illustrations that integrate the use of precast concrete pavers into the design of the built environment. Portion of Harfmann/Day publication

Scale

5/14/2013

The issue of scale is a common concern when designing the large exterior surfaces of the urban carpet. Large monolithically paved surfaces do not tend to provide the human with any dimensional relationship to the environment on which their feet are planted. The use of segmental paving, by default, offers a direct dimensional relationship between the human and the individual units that make up the paved assembly.
Portion of Harfmann/Day publication

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