Since the mid-1990’s, GHT has provided MEP engineering design for several buildings that comprise The George Washington University’s (GW) main campus in Foggy Bottom. Most recently, GHT served as a consultant to Studio 39 on Square 80, a green urban plaza that functions as a pedestrian amenity and an outdoor classroom for GW’s new Sustainable Landscape program. GHT provided electrical engineering for the transformation of an existing .75 acre parking lot adjacent to two residence halls into a sustainable courtyard. Students and the public are welcome to enjoy the ornamental tree grove, activity lawn, trellised seating, and rain garden.

Square 80 was selected by The Sustainable Sites Initiative™ (SITES™) as one of the first landscapes to participate in a new program testing the nation’s first rating system for green landscape design, construction and maintenance. SITES will use feedback from Square 80 and the other selected projects to revise its final rating system and reference guide by early 2013.

Sustainable project elements include biofiltration planters, bioswale filtration, pervious pavers, native and adapted plants that require minimal watering, a rooftop rainwater reclamation system, and cisterns and rain barrels to capture overflow water. The design team set an ambitious goal to retain nearly 100% of on-site stormwater runoff for irrigation use and to supply a sculptural water feature.