Sustainable Design | Equinox Environmental

Successful sustainable design is the harmonious mix of science, technology, and creativity. Since our beginnings in 1998, it has been at the core of what we do. The interdisciplinary Equinox team blends expertise in landscape architecture, ecology, horticulture, plant and soil science, and natural resources. The result is a broad range of unique and inspiring spaces for living, playing, and working.

• Site Analysis & Assessment
• Residential, Institutional & Commercial
• Urban Corridors & Streetscapes
• Sediment, Drainage & Erosion Control Plans
• Campus Planning & Design
• LEED Applications

See examples of our work in sustainable site planning and design.

It’s not just about meeting regulatory requirements; it’s about celebrating water. Equinox is a regional leader in designing stormwater best management practices (BMPs), which help reduce the impacts of stormwater runoff and associated pollution issues. We create functional and aesthetic stormwater BMP designs for specific sites as well as for entire developments and watersheds. We also assist clients in finding funding to subsidize better stormwater management planning and design. Our clients include residential, commercial, institutional, academic, non-profit, and government entities.

• Stormwater BMP Design
• Plant & Soil Media Selection
• Site Suitability Evaluations for BMP Types
• Maintenance Plans

See examples of  integrated stormwater design.

Greenways and alternative transportation options are healthy all the way around—they stimulate a healthy community, healthy environment, and healthy economy. The Equinox team has the tools and experience to take a project from feasibility studies and the conceptual stage to site-specific design, and construction. During the process, we can take care of landowner outreach, acquisition strategies, maintenance guidelines, and public workshops. Our projects are designed upon ecological principles and are engineered to last.

• Greenways & Trails
• Multimodal Transportation
• Complete Streets
• Bicycle & Pedestrian Plans
• Safe-Routes-to-School
• Health Impact Assessments

See our greenway and multimodal transportation projects.

Place is deeply important to the human spirit. Whether it’s in an urban or rural setting, a residential, commercial, or recreational project, our award-winning team can help you realize your land development vision. We guide our clients through the decision-making process, help secure entitlements, and turn site constraints into amenities. Through low impact development (LID) techniques, we design livable and walkable communities that fit within your site’s unique context.

• Due Diligence & Feasibility Studies
• Zoning & Ordinance Compliance
• Conservation Subdivision Design
• Low Impact Development
• Mixed Use / Infill Development

See examples of land planning and master planning.

A beautiful landscape is a daily joy. Combining our expertise in landscape design and horticulture, we provide homeowners and landowners with functional, desirable outdoor spaces. Our customized designs are sensitive to the landscape and often based on nature’s patterns, reflecting the region’s vast diversity of native flora. We are also known for tackling typical landscape problems, such as erosion and drainage issues, and turning them into celebrated features that seamlessly contribute to an inspired space. Our sustainable designs can improve water quality, lower energy costs, provide habitat, and produce food.

• Low Maintenance & Native Landscapes
• Energy Conservation
• Habitat Enhancement
• Rainwater Harvesting/Collection
• Sustainable Material Selection

See examples of our landscape design.

Restoring precious ecosystems requires an understanding of the natural sciences and the art of design, as well as the ability to work with diverse community stakeholders. Equinox provides restoration services for a variety of habitats and ecosystems, including rivers, streams, woodlands, meadows, and wetlands. This often means native plant revegetation, soil improvements, grading, erosion control, and invasive plant control. We know from firsthand experience which plant species are most likely to respond well. When possible, we also include recreational, aesthetic, and educational features in these projects.

• Stream & Wetland Restoration
• Habitat Restoration & Enhancement
• Revegetation Projects (Forest, Meadow, Riparian)

See examples of ecological restoration.

Parks and open spaces are where people and nature come together. With our extensive experience in recreation design and natural resource management, we are highly qualified to work in a variety of scales, from culturally and historically significant sites to nature centers, playgrounds, and sports facilities. Past clients have included the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, regional sports parks, municipal government park facilities, and parks owned and operated by non-profits.

• Recreation Master Plans
• Nature Based Park Design
• Sports Parks & Complexes
• Interpretive signage
• Historic & Cultural Sites
• Natural Resource Management

See examples of our park and open space planning.

Equinox provides interpretive, graphic design, and wayfinding signage. We specialize in environmental and heritage interpretation and “placemaking” signage. This service includes research and content development in collaboration with the client and/or stakeholders. We utilize our interdisciplinary team to develop content that is rooted in research and expert knowledge while displayed in a way that is visually rich and interesting to all age groups.
We skillfully work with manufactures on custom signs or installations that include specialized detailed design, construction documents, and construction administration.

See examples of our Environmental & Interpretive Graphics.

You have a permitted stormwater control measure or BMP – but did you know that you may be required to have it inspected regularly under the jurisdiction of your municipality or state?  We help institutions, neighborhoods, and businesses with this important but sometimes daunting process.

• Stormwater Inspections and Maintenance Reports – Equinox will perform an inspection of the stormwater control measure. Upon observation of satisfactory function of the stormwater systems, Equinox will generate and submit a report to the appropriate entity.
• Maintenance Recommendations (if applicable) – If the site inspection finds maintenance is necessary, Equinox will provide a notice of recommended maintenance actions and provide a follow-up inspection to ensure your stormwater control measure is functioning as intended.