Studio projects

The site was a large surface lot that drained entirely to a few inlets at its low edge. It was hot in summer, windy in winter and unpleasant to walk across. The brief asked how a parking lot could manage more of its own stormwater without losing its function.

Mapping drainage areas showed that most of the lot sloped gently in one direction, which made a chain of swales along existing grade lines possible. Desire-line observation showed people cutting diagonally between rows, which suggested where a planted walking route could go. Notes on snow showed where plows already piled it.

Early versions scattered rain gardens wherever there was space. Checking them against grades showed several would never receive water. The final proposal uses fewer, longer bioswales aligned with the slope, connected by overflow so each one hands off to the next, and a planted walkway that follows the observed diagonal. Planting is zoned for wet swale bottoms, average side slopes and tough, salt-tolerant edges near inlets.

Curb cuts at true low points, stone aprons to slow inflow, small sediment forebays that are easy to clean and designated snow storage areas away from inlets. The approach is explained further in rain gardens and bioswales in Lincoln.

The stretch of creek had steep, eroding banks, an existing trail that flooded after storms and several informal paths down to the water that were widening each year. The question was how to make the corridor more stable and more enjoyable at the same time.

Debris lines and flattened vegetation showed how far small floods reached. Informal paths clustered at a few spots where the bank was lower — clear evidence of where people wanted to reach the water. Bank conditions varied a lot along the reach, which ruled out a single treatment.

We tested three trail alignments. The final one moves the main trail to the edge of the floodplain, keeps one existing crossing and adds two landings at the most stable access points. Bank treatments vary by condition: laid-back planted slopes where space allowed and a hybrid of rock toe and planting where it did not. My part focused on riparian planting zones and the sections that explain them.

Channel and bank work on a real project would be engineered and permitted with specialists. We presented the proposal as a design concept and noted those steps. The broader reasoning is in designing trails and edges along Lincoln's creeks.

The plaza was busy at lunch in summer and nearly empty the rest of the year. It was shaded for much of the winter day and funneled wind between buildings. The question: what would it take for this space to be pleasant on a bright, cold day?

Sun studies for different months showed that only the north edge received meaningful winter sun. Wind observations confirmed a gusty corridor from the northwest. People crossed diagonally regardless of the existing walks.

Seating moved to the north edge, facing south, with wood seats instead of metal. A band of evergreen and grass planting and a low wall break the wind at seat height. The diagonal became the main path. Deciduous trees on the south side shade the seats in summer and let low winter sun through. Snow storage areas double as planted swales.

Grasses and seed heads stay standing until late winter; a crisp edge shows the planting is intentional. Warm, low-glare lighting marks the path and highlights the trees after dark. The principles are collected in designing public space for Nebraska winters.

Prairie-inspired plantings are often recommended, but the choice between seed and plugs is usually made on budget alone. I wanted to understand what each approach looks like on the ground during establishment, and what that means for design and maintenance.

Three small plots used the same species list: one seeded, one planted with plugs and one with a seeded grass matrix and plugs of key flowering species. I photographed each plot on a regular schedule and kept notes on coverage, weeds and maintenance time. It was a small, informal study — useful for observation, not for general conclusions.

The plug plot looked finished soonest and was easiest to read as intentional. The seeded plot was slow and weedy early, as expected, and needed high mowing. The mixed plot sat in between and looked the most like a cohesive community by the end of the season. These are observations from one season on one site.

I now propose plugs near entries and walks, seed for large low-visibility areas and mixed approaches in between, with the maintenance plan written alongside. More in tallgrass prairie as a design reference.

The block had wide turf parkways, a gentle slope and runoff running along the gutter to a single inlet. The question was whether the parkways could manage some street runoff and add planting without causing problems for residents.

Observation showed where people parked, crossed and put out bins, and where driveways interrupted the parkway. Those patterns set the rhythm: planted cells between driveways, with turf or paved gaps where people step out of cars.

Each cell takes water through a curb cut and overflows back to the gutter. Planting uses tough prairie species on the edges and moisture-tolerant species in cell bottoms, with a mown or stone edge as a clear cue to care. Snow from the street is stored on the gaps rather than the cells.

A real version would need engineering review and conversations with residents. I would test a pilot on one or two parkways first. The reasoning builds on rain gardens and bioswales and site analysis.