This project implements a working model of sustainable public realm design that showcases sustainability initiatives at UBC - Canada’s leader in campus sustainability research and practice. The Sustainability Street project brought together various university departments, including faculty, staff, and operations, to enhance the function and coherence of the public realm. Existing site conditions were thoroughly analyzed and then carefully matched to the program elements proposed for the site. The result is an innovative public space that connects people, ideas and environmentally-focused technology. Sustainability Street addresses the challenges of an increasingly urban world, demonstrating closed-loop solutions for collecting storm water, treating wastewater and generating energy.
Sustainability Street has transformed the formerly non-descript thoroughfare of Stores Road into a visually appealing pedestrian-oriented promenade that complements the environmental processes and promotes awareness of the interrelationships between people, the built environment and the natural world. The design of the project has succeeded in improving clarity and ease of circulation, way-finding, and pedestrian comfort. The South side of the street serves as the green infrastructure filtering the storm water and providing habitat. The north side is the social side of the street, providing opportunities for education, public gathering and communication.
Serving as an evolving educational resource, an inspiring social forum, and an exciting example of sustainable design in practice, Sustainability Street reveals new possibilities for our future. Sustainability Street will evolve and grow over time, encouraging us all to become more aware of the interdependencies between people, the built environment and the natural world – as well as the practical possibilities of sustainable design, both close to home and further afield.
