Site Assessment & Design

Photo: Bindersbee (public domain)

Whether or not a design team has a say in siting a project, carefully assessing the site should be on every project’s to-do list. A site assessment early in design can reduce costs, allay potential risks, support the health and well-being of occupants and native habitat, and promote other unique site features.
And site design goes hand in hand with building design, as the building interacts with the site when it comes to daylight, rainwater management, views and biophilia, and other building features.

Site Assessment & Design

Deep Dives

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  • Build Green on a Budget: Lessons from Affordable Housing

    Feature Article

    Sustainability doesn’t have to cost more—and no one knows that better than affordable housing experts. But every project type can benefit from these 12 cost-reducing ideas that support people and the planet.

  • Resilient, Sustainable Water Management: A Holistic Approach

    Feature Article

    Water is our planet’s lifeblood. But climate change has redefined how we view water, with drought amplifying water scarcity and changing our relationship with the landscape and the built environment. 

  • Native Landscaping for Biodiversity

    Feature Article

     Removal of invasive plants and support of native plantings are critically important for maintaining healthy ecosystems.

  • Work Globally, Design Locally

    Feature Article

    In today’s global economy, American architects work on six continents—but that doesn’t mean they should all have identical glass towers.

Quick Takes

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  • How Environmental Site Assessments Work

    Explainer

    Existing buildings and previously developed sites are great, but they often need environmental cleanup. An ESA is the first step.

  • Putting a “LID” on Harmful Stormwater Runoff

    Explainer

    Low-impact development (LID) minimizes pavement and maximizes rainwater infiltration, filtering out pollution and preventing erosion.

  • Sharing the Skyline with Birds

    Explainer

    Buildings are major killers of birds, but thoughtful design can help.

  • Combined Sewer Overflow

    Explainer

    Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) occur in municipalities with older wastewater systems that carry both sanitary wastewater and stormwater; eliminating CSOs involves investment in wastewater infrastructure and reducing stormwater flows.

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