Nitsch Engineering team wins first phase of DC Water Green Infrastructure Challenge

The Nitsch Engineering team's design for the DC Water Green Infrastructure Challenge has been selected as one of the winners of the planning and design phase of the competition. Working in partnership with Urban Rain|Design, Nitsch Engineering's proposal for Kennedy|Greened: A Neighborhood Green Street Project includes six green infrastructure strategies that can be replicated throughout urban corridors across the District of Columbia. The design competition is now moving into Phase II, which will involve more in-depth design to determine which of the winning designs will enter construction. The DC Water Green Infrastructure Challenge asked firms to design innovative solutions that absorb stormwater before it enters the combined sewer system. To meet this goal, Nitsch Engineering and Urban Rain|Design proposed improvements for Kennedy St. that integrate six different landscape and stormwater strategies: new street trees, lawn conversion, pavers with Landscape Infiltration Gaps (LIGs), stormwater curb extensions, grated landscapes, and sub-surface storage/infiltration. "We anticipate that our plan for Kennedy Street will eliminate 545,000 gallons of stormwater from entering the combined sewer system annually, will improve water quality, and will minimize urban heat island effects," said Nicole Holmes, PE, LEED AP BD+C, Nitsch Engineering's green infrastructure project manager. "Just as important, our design will benefit the community by raising awareness and advocacy of green infrastructure, and by creating a shared street that is safer and more pleasant for all roadway users: public transit vehicles, automobiles, bicycles, and pedestrians." The team includes Nitsch Engineering as the design engineer and principal consultant; Urban Rain|Design as the landscape architect; Stacy Levy as the artist; and Raymond Papa as the graphic designer.