Explore the hidden stormwater infrastructure that filters runoff, improves water quality, and protects the environment. Dawson Garrod of UVA Environmental Resources will host a walking tour of Brandon Avenue's innovative, award-winning “Green Street,” where landscape design, stormwater infrastructure, and student life come together.
What looks like a beautiful pedestrian-friendly streetscape is actually a sophisticated piece of stormwater infrastructure. At the heart of the project is a 12,200-square-foot bioretention system that captures and treats stormwater for more than 10 acres of redevelopment area. Rather than hiding this infrastructure underground, the Green Street makes it visible, transforming it into a living classroom for sustainability and ecological education.
During this tour, participants will learn how Brandon Avenue evolved from an underutilized area into a vibrant living and learning community featuring student housing, dining, wellness resources, and outdoor gathering spaces.