Lafayette College Green Infrastructure Master Planning Guidelines

Project Description

Biohabitats partnered with Ayers/Saint/Gross to create master planning guidelines for Lafayette College in Easton, PA.  After analyzing the campus ecological, stormwater drainage, and landscape management issues, Biohabitats recommended a variety of sustainable solutions to incorporate into the College’s master planning efforts. 

These solutions included conversion of underutilized and difficult-to-maintain turf areas to native vegetation, and the installation of rain gardens, edible/agricultural gardens and seating/gathering areas.  Analysis revealed that turf conversions would reduce the carbon footprint from mowing, lessen irrigation needs, and reduce overall maintenance efforts.  For well-used turf areas, findings recommended sustainable management practices such as integrated pest management to reduce pesticide and herbicide use.  To alleviate flooding and filter stormwater draining into the adjacent Bushkill Creek, Biohabitats suggested a multilevel stormwater management approach utilizing green roofs on all proposed new buildings, curb extensions along flood-prone roads to divert and filter water through vegetated swales, and rain gardens.  Restoring forest buffers and the Bushkill Creek corridor are additional project elements recommended to improve water quality and enhance recreation opportunities.