Yarmouth Port, MA
IFAW chose to restore a five-acre brownfield on the edge of a wildlife sanctuary for the new location of their proposed international headquarters. After extensive post-industrial cleanup and soil remediation the site has been restored to a naturalized condition. The 40,000 square foot building is arranged as three interconnected structures to reduce mass and create a south facing courtyard restored with meadow grasses within a drumlin, an indigenous sloping glacial landform. A native drought tolerant plant palette was selected for ecological benefits, reconnecting the site to the adjacent conservation lands, and providing an extension site for wildlife habitat. Runoff during rainfall flows into an engineered vegetated swale, where measured cleansing and infiltration occurs. This ethic offers a model for progressive stormwater management in an area burdened by brownfields.
Recognition
Boston Society of Landscape Architects | Merit Award 2009
Boston Society of Architects | Honor Award for Design Excellence 2009
Collaborators
designLAB Architects
Photography
STIMSON