limestone walls. Limestone rip rap extends out from the steel ‘collars’ to disperse incoming water in order to capture silt and prevent erosion. Distinctive, conical stone cairns at the low point of all the basins mask overflow catch basin structures. The overflow structures feature slots at both the 2-year and 10-year mark that allow water to be slowly released into the downstream storm drainage system. Beyond meeting imperative water management goals, the climate response infrastructure keeps the ebb and force of nature front and center. As water and weather leave their mark, natural forces that might otherwise go unnoticed will be made visible. Our intention is to aid awareness of a changing planet and contribute to a more climate- resilient world. Through the restoration of woodlands, wetlands, prairie, and aquifers, Heartwood Preserve’s greenways and water basins will fortify and protect Eastern Nebraska’s ecological networks for flora and fauna. In response to the site’s various microclimates, multiple native grass mixtures were formulated, ranging from water tolerant mixes for the wetlands to drought tolerant mixes for the uplands. To support an am- bitious plan to plant ten thousand trees, nurseries have been studded throughout the development. Trees that had to be cut down for con- struction will be “re-planted” and serve as totems and precious habitat for mammals and birds. Upon completion the Greenways will contain over fourteen miles of trails extending throughout the five hundred acres and into Omaha’s “Paths of Discovery” network. Linking into both the West Papio Trail and the 144th Street Trail, these paths will provide more continuity to Omaha’s larger multi-modal trail network, used by bike riders, fami- lies, and runners. Amenities throughout the Greenways include fire pits, shelters, picnic areas, playgrounds, and council rings. The grand scale of the Heartwood site gave MSLA the opportunity and responsibility to create something that transcends what has been done before. This stately earthwork infrastructure and its surroundings will be dynamic public art that make both the immediate and long-term changes in our environs visible and legible. A ringed allée of trees frame the largest basin, serving as a subtle counter to the surrounding native prairie and informal drifts of woodlands
The effectiveness of the design will be determined by its contribution to economic, environmental, and social resilience as measured by real estate value, number of jobs created, and income generated by busi- ness and tourism. While more difficult to measure, I’m certain that Heartwood Preserve will contribute to quality of Omaha life and my hope is that this approach will inspire designers, engineers and builders to collaboratively consider what could be done to foster and celebrate ecological awareness. The Heartwood Preserve Greenway design has won four prestigious landscape and sustainability design awards: The American Plan- ning Association, The American Society of Landscape Architect’s Northern California Chapter, The Architecture MasterPrize , and an Architizer A+ Award. Heartwood Preserve is owned by Applied Underwriters, a global risk management company that is building its new operations campus in Omaha at Heartwood. In addition to the Greenway, Heartwood Pre- serve will feature 1.65 million square feet of office space, 50,000 square feet of retail , and 430 homes. Bart Emanuel, National Director of Development & Construction for Applied Underwriters said: “These basins not only will mitigate flood risk, but are also incredible land art in an area that will be well-traveled by the public. As visitors wind their way around the Greenway water basin path, there will be various opportunities for recreation such as sand volleyball or socializing around a fire pit in the summer, and ice skating in the winter.” Construction on the Heartwood Greenway System began in Spring 2019 and is anticipated to be completed in 2023. The basins and their surroundings reveal the constantly changing landscape. The harmonious site is held together by a series of sculpted landscapes that are performative, distinctive, and ever-changing
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csengineermag.com
DECEMBER 2021
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