7. Buckman Heights
Buckman Heights and Buckman Terrace Apartments
Location: NE 16th and Sandy Blvd.
Buckman Heights
4 story, 150 unit apartment building
Stormwater Facility: Courtyard Planter
Facility location: Central courtyard
Type of facility: Infiltration basin
Date of installation: 1998
Impervious area managed: 12,250 ft2
Size of facility: 1,600 ft2 (Two 800 ft2 basins)
Design storm: 10 year
Runoff from the building roof is piped under the lawn area and the sidewalk to the central courtyard planters. The planters act as infiltration basins allowing stormwater to soak into the ground. Water tolerant species including spiraea, iris and Oregon grape are planted in a Japanese holly border. The border hedge gives the planters a formal landscaped appearance not normally associated with stormwater facilities.
Stormwater Facility: Parking Lot Swales
Facility location: South edge of parking lot
Type of facility: Landscaped perimeter infiltration
Date of installation: 1998
Impervious area managed: 8,000 ft2
Size of facility: 1,000 ft2
Design storm: 10 year
The required parking lot landscaping serves a dual purpose by also providing stormwater management. The parking lot is sloped toward the landscaping. Curb cuts allow water to flow into the infiltration strip where it soaks into the ground.
Buckman Terrace
4 story, 150 unit apartment building with underground parking and commercial uses on Sandy Boulevard.
Stormwater Facility: Westside Swale
Facility location: Along Westside of building
Type of facility: Vegetated swale
Date of installation: 1999
Impervious area managed: 14,500 ft2
Size of facility: 2,300 ft2 (382 ft long by 6 ft wide)
Storm event: 25 year flow, 10 year detention
The Westside swale is located around the back of the building. It captures and treats water from the building roof. Pea gravel slows water to facilitate sedimentation and infiltration. The swale is planted with
spiraea, sedges, Japanese iris and Oregon grape.
Stormwater Facility: Eastside Stormwater Planters
Facility location: Along front (east) of building
Type of facility: Stormwater planter
Date of installation: 1999
Impervious area managed: 19,000 ft2
Size of facility: 1,832 ft2
Storm event: 10 year
Landscape beds along the front of the building are designed to treat and absorb stormwater from a portion of the roof. Water enters the planters from scuppers to gravel splash blocks, it filters through the topsoil and into the gravel soakage trenches, where it is stored while it slowly soaks into the ground.
Stormwater Facility: Ecoroofs
Facility location: Above entrance and above commercial space on Sandy
Type of facility: Ecoroof
Date of installation: 1999
Impervious area managed: 225 ft2 and 2,050 ft2
Size of facility: 200 ft2 and 1,350 ft2
Ecoroofs are located above the front entrance on the east side of the building and over the commercial space on Sandy Boulevard. Each roof treats some additional area. The roofs were planted in the spring of 2000 with sedum, wildflowers, native grasses, and some ferns on the eastern roof. The soil is 4� deep and weighs 20 psf when saturated. An American Hydrotech waterproof membrane was used.
Project team:
- Metro - Transit Oriented Development Program
- City of Portland Environmental Services – Technical Assistance
Recognition:
- 2000 Sierra Club, Cited in national report as best example in Oregon of responsible development
- 1998 Governor's Livability Award, Special Mention
- 1998 1,000 Friends of Oregon, Developer of the Year Award
- 1998 City of Portland Pollution Prevention Award
- 1999 Bicycle Transportation Alliance, “Alice B. Toeclips� award for bike-friendly development
- 1999 City of Portland, BEST Award (Businesses for an Environmentally Sustainable Tomorrow)
Other Green Features (see links below for full list):
- Low parking to unit ratio.
- Abundant bicycling parking.
- Car share onsite.
Building materials:
- High recycled content construction
Energy efficiency:
- Low-e coated, argon filled windows to minimize summer heat-gain and winter heat-loss.
- Compact fluorescents in common areas