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Maintaining Infrastructure
The existing stormwater system of drains directed to the ocean were left in place but the conveyance to these drains is interrupted in key areas to the extent that 80 percent of site water is captured. Initial permeability and infiltration testing identified the site?EUR??,,????'?????<

In certain areas a complete section of concrete gutter was removed and replaced with a bioswale designed to appear as a local foothill riparian area. A recycled bardwalk was designed to allow site users to traverse the bioswale that leads to the central lecture and workshop facility. Concrete swales are redirected to natural riparian infiltration areas prior to entering storm drains. Recent observations during the current rains have shown that in several areas no water was entering the site storm drains.

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The solar canopy, situated adjacent to one of the major buildings, powers the rain harvesting tank pumps. The structure also supports lighting and fans powered by the solar panels above. The canopy structure is designed to provide maximum angle to the sun, plus create a dynamic shaded space.

Summary
The Gateway Business Center is a model for countless projects in desperate need of sustainable renovation. This project is approached as an opportunity to apply sustainable practices. The design approach is a blend of aesthetics, biophilia and sustainability. Our approach emphasized the following underlying goals in the initial design

1. Design for a regenerative system of stormwater capture, rain harvesting, solar energy, water conservation and regional native plant communities.
   
2. Design for a visible concept of eco-revelatory landscapes.
   
3. Design multifunctional landscapes.

Visual connections of plantings, local stone and a recycled metal gateway direct people into the garden. A stroll through the garden is a pleasant way to get from building to building. Seating nodes offer relaxation and further contemplation. The paving at the nodes include permeable interlocking pavers and decomposed granite.

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Sustainable Practice
Our process is to understand the site, natural region and to develop a concept that creates biophilia and integrates the ecological and human needs components to the site within a realistic budget.

The natural infiltration capability of the existing site created opportunities to interrupt the existing concrete stormwater conveyance system and introduced infiltration areas, bioswales and curb cuts to bring the stormwater into naturalized landscape areas. This was done in some areas by diverting roof water drainage pipes into natural cobble and gravel infiltration zones, with an outlet to existing stormwater systems.

Ecological Components

1. Emphasize regional character. Capture views to the mountains, introduce the local cobble, boulders and decomposed granite. Emphasize plantings native to the foothills and canyons and mimic the local plant community mosaic, including oak woodland, riparian, meadow, coastal sage and chaparral.
   
2. Recycle demolished trees and excavated cobble as mulch. Mimic the local riparian areas.
   
3. The native plant mosaics create wildlife habitat and have introduced a diversity of bird and butterfly populations on site.
   
4. Capture 85 percent of the stormwater on site through the use of bioswales infiltration swales, permeable paving and existing storm drain intercepts, with redirection to riparian areas.
   
5. Efficient water use by redesign of irrigation systems per appropriate hydrozones; separate tree-watering and weather-based irrigation control system.
   
6. Rain water harvesting and use in storm gardens, with a solar canopy providing the pumping power currently under construction in phase 2.
   
7. Human and biological needs component.
   
8. Increase site usage by providing optimum site accessibility and wayfinding to link sustainable practices and people places with cairns and an informal trail system.
   
9. Create people places for relaxation, contemplation and conversation. Provide exposure to the natural environment for its mental and restorative features, i.e., ?EUR??,,????'?????<
10. Use cairns and signage to educate people about practices that regenerate and sustain the site.