Markham Square

The site, a flood-prone brownfield on a city block, is located in a watershed recognized by the State of Arkansas as impaired due to high levels of pollutants from nearby industrial and residential sources. Existing hard engineering exacerbates these issues.

This innovative design uses several sophisticated Low Impact and Green Infrustracture techniques to solve the problems of pollution and storm water flow. Porous pavers, bio-mats and living walls function as filters and decelerators for the polluted urban storm water flowing into the site.

This unique urban design celebrates the typical retention basin as a feature element that not only accommodates large rain events, but contributes to the design of separate spaces with a central pavilion that acts as the hub of a wheel. If implemented, this design will become a showcase of Low Impact and Green Infrastructure that will inspire surrounding development to adopt these same techniques.