Environmental Design Group, originally established in 1984, provides professional planning, design and engineering services to shape, define, utilize, conserve and restore land and water resources. The organization fosters success by way of specific integrated project teams of dedicated professionals in the disciplines of civil engineering, landscape architecture, planning, surveying, environmental sciences and construction administration. The staff of 55 includes eight landscape architects, five planners, and three designers.

Timken Company World Headquarters, North Canton, Ohio
Environmental Design Group was the landscape architect for this $42 million, 160,000 square foot office complex, which included a 900-car terraced parking facility, steel yard enhancements, entry plazas and an expansive exterior employee courtyard. It was strategically designed with stormwater management considerations that reduce runoff and improve water quality and also protect existing wetlands, with features such as pervious pavement, vegetated swales, bioswales, rain gardens and naturally landscaped detention basins. The site offers employees a pedestrian trail and heated pavement in various places. A traffic analysis and roadway widening were also executed in each of the entryways.

 

Bridgestone America's Akron Technical Center, Akron, Ohio
Environmental Design Group provided conceptual site design for the $68-million Bridgestone-Akron Technical Center that sits adjacent to Bridgestone America's tire operation research and computer centers. The site's sloping topography, abundant open space, and mature trees set the framework for site development, which consisted of outdoor pedestrian plazas and gathering spaces, various gardens, walking paths, innovative stormwater management facilities, visitor parking areas and native prairie landscapes. The overarching goals of the project were to create a site design that was innovative and forward-thinking in its detail, was respectful of the existing Harvey Firestone Memorial, preserved and enhanced the natural character of the site and was executed in a manner that embraced Bridgestone Corporation's "One Team, One Planet" philosophy of sustainability. This project was awarded LEED???(R)???AE???? Gold Certification and three additional awards, including the Ohio Chapter ASLA Honor Award and the Ohio Stormwater Award.

West Creek Reservation, Parma, Ohio
Environmental Design Group was the lead firm responsible for master planning, design and documentation for this world-class research facility for urban watersheds, including its all-purpose trail, park development and associated park buildings. The $13 million park features watershed analysis and training, woven with natural systems restoration in a traditional park setting. Its more than forty stormwater management features are in use today, illustrating to the public how homeowners can install features on their property to protect and enhance their community's watershed health. The Center was awarded the Ohio Chapter ASLA honor award, Ohio Stormwater award, and has become a resource for urban watershed strategies throughout the Great Lakes region.

Akron Children's Hospital Kay Jewelers Pavilion, Akron, Ohio
Environmental Design Group provided landscape architecture services, leading the design effort for all elements exterior to the building, including an amphitheater, arrival courts, drop-off area for the emergency department and sculpture gardens. The design strategy was a departure from the traditional design-bid-build model as the team strategized daily with design practitioners, construction managers and trade partners to enable discussion on various design and construction elements. Design of all exterior elements for Akron Children's Hospital's Critical Care Tower carries on the mission upon which the hospital was founded, promising superior care to every child. The design efficiently and successfully created a unique, inviting space for sick children and their families.

Cuyahoga County Towpath Trail, Cleveland, Ohio
Environmental Design Group developed the vision for the Ohio and Erie Canal towpath trail through Cleveland's flats and the industrial district of the Cuyahoga River valley. The plan envisions a greenway beside the Cuyahoga River that incorporates regeneration of the surrounding landscape, development of recreational opportunities and reconnection of neighborhoods. Environmental Design Group provided detailed design services for the shared-use-path, trailheads, plazas, nodes, green infrastructure, multi-modal facilities, environmental regeneration and enhancements, as well as landscape architecture design for earthwork and grading, paving, drainage, erosion control, landscaping, striping, signing and ADA accessibility. The third stage, which is two miles in length, is in progress, while two stages have been completed: the Akron Bikeway that stretches for eight miles and Cascade Locks that extends for nearly half a mile.