In 2001 a group of landscape architects, on the behalf of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), began discussions with the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) regarding the question of why LEED^TM did not go further in recognizing the benefits of a sites landscape in the sustainable market place.  This discussion quickly turned to “How?”  How can we evaluate a site landscape, or a landscape that has differing regional values, purpose, and is vastly different in function?  How do we evaluate a landscape that is constantly changing?  With these questions and challenges, work began to look at how a program could be established that does evaluate the landscape for its level of sustainability and began to quantify its value environmentally, socially and the economics associated with it.  Landscape Architects have been providing a range of these services for many years and have been creating landscapes that are environmentally based.  Historically, there have been good examples of developments based on what we now look at as sustainable or green design.  Yet, there was no recognized program that determined or established benchmarks for the outdoor site and its functions like LEED does for the building.

 The Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES™) is an interdisciplinary partnership led by ASLA, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the U.S. Botanic Gardens.  With the stated mission to transform land development and management practices to create a sustainable landscape, SITES™ moves beyond a do-no-harm approach.  The move is a paradigm shift from a preservation focus to a regenerative focus.  It is based on the premise that human beings are a part (rather than apart from) of the rest of nature, and fully dependent on the services that natural systems provide.

What does a sustainable site look like?  The vision of a sustainable site as defined in SITES™ is one that is: Climate Positive, Water Positive, Material Up-cycling, Thriving Bio-diversity, Adaptive to Management & Maintenance, and Monitored.

From the beginning, SITES™ was envisioned to provide guidance for projects with or without buildings.  These applications are for projects of all types and sizes such as parks, recreation facilities, streetscapes, campuses and multi-building complexes.

With the popularity of “Green” or “Sustainability” in the media and professional publications there tends to be a natural meadow or prairie vision that has caught on. That said, does a sustainable landscape have a certain look? Perhaps, in some cases the look is being carried forward for marketing purposes so the general public has developed an opinion of what landscapes that are sustainable look like.  But is it really that necessary to only focus on one style since sustainability is not a look or a style; it is the function and interaction of sites and the landscapes of the site.

Sustainable landscapes and the core principle of SITES™ focus on eco-system services.  For a number of years, there has been research underway on the role and value of eco-systems.  The “Millennium Eco-system Assessment,” prepared in 2005, established that “eco-systems are critical to human well-being, to our health, our prosperity, our security, and to our social and cultural identity.”  In addition, the connection of healthy eco-systems and economic performance/responsibility is taking hold in political conversations as well.  ASLA continues to advocate for sustainability based on solutions in the forefront of political actions.  SITES™ bases its focus on sustainability and the evaluation of sustainable systems on an ecosystem services platform.  The credit areas fall into nine areas of focus consisting of; site selection, pre-design assessment, hydrology, soil and vegetation, materials, human health and well-being, construction, operations and maintenance, and monitoring and innovation.

CURRENT: The SITES Pilot Project Phase Launch
Recently, the Sustainable Sites partnership released the selected Pilot Projects that will test the guidelines.  These guidelines, based on a 250 point matrix, will evaluate the projects ability to comply with 15 pre-requisites, and achieve at least 100 credit points.  Upon completion of the evaluation, projects will be certified as one and up to four stars based on the total points achieved. 

Over 150 projects are participating in the Pilot Program that will run from June 2010 – June 2012.  These projects represent a diverse cross-section of project types, land uses and sizes.

Project Types

• Open Space-Parks, Gardens, Arboretums
• Institutional/Education
• Commercial
• Residential
• Transportation/Streetscapes
• Government Complexes
• Mixed-Use
• Industrial

These projects include greyfield sites, brownfield sites, and greenfields with project sizes ranging less than one acre to greater than 500 acres.  Projects such as the New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture will join more than 150 other projects from 34 states as well as from Canada, Iceland and Spain as part of the international pilot project program to evaluate the new SITES rating system. These sustainable landscapes will be evaluated for their ability to clean water, reduce pollution and restore habitats, while providing significant economic and social benefits to land owners and municipalities.  These Pilot Projects consist of some that have been constructed as well as others that are to be constructed over the next two years.  Projects will showcase restoration work, conservation, retrofits and maintenance.  Pilot Projects and their findings will be tracked on the sustainable sites web site at www.sustainablesites.org.  Recently, the City of Chicago has been added to the coordinating committee that will provide input on the direction and promotion of the SITES™ products.

THE FUTURE
As findings and evaluation testing of the Pilot Projects move forward, we will be better positioned to look at the economic impact this will have on the landscape and the bottom line for development.  In addition, we will be able to look beyond the economics and closer at the health benefits of the landscape, the eco-systems health and the benefits to human-kind.  The findings of the Pilot Projects will also allow us to step back and verify the intent and focus of the guidelines culminating in a final product slated for release in 2013.  You do not have to wait however.  The guidelines and performance benchmarks are available for application of the principles today. The incorporation of these sustainable principles into projects is highly encouraged.  Work is ongoing with the USGBC on the SITES™ ultimate interaction with the popular LEED™ program.

About the Authors
April Philips is founder of April Philips Design Works, an award winning bay area firm that specializes in landscape architecture and sustainable design. April's firm focuses on an integrative approach, working to combine the clients’ needs and the sites’ unique characteristics into creative and successful built environments. Through her work with the American Society of Landscape Architects, (ASLA), April was a founder and the first Chair of the Sustainable Design & Development PPN (professional practice network) in 2001 that began the groundwork within ASLA to develop the Sustainable Sites Initiative. April’s passion is for the integration of sustainable practices at all scales of development - local, regional, and global. April is a registered landscape architect in the states of California and Texas, a Bay Friendly Qualified Professional and an artist. Her 2001 Market Street mixed use project in San Francisco was selected as one of the SITES^TM pilot projects. For more information on April Philips; www.apdw.com 

Keven L. Graham is Managing Principal of Planning Resources, an environmental, planning and landscape architectural firm. His experience in preparing and managing a variety of landscape developments include the planning and design of large scale land planning, open space master planning, park/sports fields, healthcare facilities and designs that use the LEED green building rating system. Keven has worked to develop livable communities through his planning and design of master plans for downtowns, transportation corridors, and sustainable site planning.  Mr. Graham continues to serve as a founding officer of ASLA’s Sustainable Design & Development PPN (professional practice network) and speaks nationally on sustainable practices and open space planning.  He is currently providing design consultation for Shays’ Folly a residential development in Illinois selected as on of the SITES^TM pilot projects. For more information on Keven Graham; www.planres.com