At a Glance
Revitalization of campus facilities serves as a catalyst for the restoration of Towson Run and its riparian corridor.
Project Description
Due to a projected increase in student enrollment, Towson University is entering a period of rapid changes and the need for new and updated facilities. As part of a desire to incorporate more ecologically sustainable projects, Towson University has engaged Biohabitats in a variety of initiatives including the development of a campus-wide water resources management plan, participation in the Facilities Master Plan, and the restoration of the Glen tributary. With the expansion of an existing parking garage located in a sensitive ecological area along Towson Run, Towson turned to Biohabitats to help make it a project that would honor their commitment to environmental stewardship.
Working in collaboration with the project architects, civil engineers and structural engineers, Biohabitats integrated regenerative design features into the parking garage upgrades including a bioretention facility to treat stormwater, a natural step-pool channel and bioengineering of the streambanks. Biohabitats native vegetation restoration plans also included indigenous forest planting along the riparian areas to stabilize adjacent slopes. Working with the regulatory agencies, Biohabitats led efforts to restore a reach of Towson Run, including the removal of concrete from the channel and the integration of aquatic habitat features.