Silva Cell Case Study: Simulated Emergency Repair Toronto, ON
Today we’ll look at how to do an emergency repair of a Silva Cell system. This simulated repair was done at a demonstration site in Toronto and was a joint test site between Toronto Water and the...
View ArticleSilva Cell Case Study: Planned Watermain Repair Winnipeg, MB
We previously took a look at how to do an emergency utility repair where a Silva Cell system is installed. Today we’ll look at how to do a planned repair. Broadway Avenue, in Winnipeg, which went in...
View ArticleSilva Cell Case Study: Installing Without Side Access Rodney Square,...
Our recent Silva Cell installation at Rodney Square in Wilmington, DE is an excellent example of how Cells can be installed on a site without access from the sides. The project is located in the...
View ArticleThe Wonderful World of Silva Cell Storage
Awhile back (actually WAY back in 2010) we discussed the how to store and how not to store Silva Cells. I thought it might be time for a little refresher on the best practices and why it is important...
View ArticleWebinar: Tips for Pricing a Silva Cell Installation October 5th at 11am...
It’s unusual — maybe unprecedented? — for us to post off of our normal Monday/Wednesday/Friday schedule, but we’ve got a lot of good articles in the queue and I didn’t want to disrupt any of those....
View ArticleGreen Building from the Outside InPreserving Trees During Construction
Today’s post from monthly guest author Ellyn Shea is about a truly important, but often overlooked, issue: protecting existing trees during construction. I’m a sucker for success stories, and this is...
View ArticleWhat Is Suspended Pavement?
Which growing media is best for trees? We use the term “suspended pavement” a lot on this blog and in our presentations, but it occurred to me recently that we’ve never properly defined this term. Here...
View ArticleVideo: Integrating Silva Cells & Utilities
Last month’s webinar by our Technical Director, Pat Greeley, on the topic of integrating Silva Cells and utilities was our best attended, ever, by far (far). We know how important this topic is, and...
View ArticleDesign Considerations for On-Structure Silva Cell Projects
These trees are planted in Silva Cells on top of an underground parking garage at New York’s Lincoln Center Theater (2012) We see a lot of Silva Cell projects go in on top of existing structure such as...
View ArticleInstaller Qualifications for Silva Cell Projects
Silva Cells were installed at the Haas School of Business at UC-Berkeley this winter. Photo: Alyn Divine If you’re a contractor interested in installing a Silva Cell project, don’t be misled in...
View ArticleAll About Silva Cell Setbacks
One of the most misunderstood Silva Cell standards is the 18” (45 cm) setback from roadway traffic. It’s true that when Silva Cells are installed adjacent to a roadway, we require 18” (45 cm) of...
View ArticleEvery Which Way of Integrating Silva Cells and Utilities
“What about utilities?” This is probably the most frequently asked question I hear on projects where the Silva Cell is being used. And I get it! Utilities are an extremely important consideration. As...
View ArticleNew Guideline Specifications for Nursery Tree Quality from the Urban Tree...
Specifications and details are required elements of the design and construction process – they’re what ensure the proper components get built in the right place and to the right standards. Yet for...
View ArticlePerspectives on land use, development trends, and green infrastructure
In February I had the opportunity to speak with David Dockter, an arborist with the Department of Planning and Community Environment and Public Works in the city of Palo Alto, CA. As someone expert in...
View ArticleReusing Existing Urban Soil for Planting
Most urban sites have some amount of mineral soil in place when the time comes to install plant material, yet these soils are often assumed – erroneously – to be unsuitable. Historically there have...
View ArticleBuried Treasure: Conserving Urban Soil in Place
It’s not unusual to find a piece of art or jewelry over 500 years old in a museum’s collection. These precious artifacts are (rightly) treated with great care commensurate with their value. Yet an inch...
View ArticleSmart Tree Care and Maintenance Lessons from other cities
In part one of this post, I gave my recommendations for how to address tree maintenance needs in a smarter and more financially (and ecologically) sustainable way. Those recommendations are great, but...
View ArticleWhat are the major challenges to implementing green streets for stormwater...
Using green streets for stormwater management has become popular in many cities because they allow engineers, planners, and municipal officials to integrate water quality and regulatory compliance with...
View ArticleUrban Soil Assessment and ReusePart 1: Soil Properties
A critical part of any landscape architect’s training is to learn how to understand the site conditions before starting the design. There is likely nothing more important than soil to the success of...
View ArticlePreserving Trees on a Development Site: Contractor’s Best Practices
Good design preserves existing trees during a development project. However, the most tree-sensitive design will not be enough if tree-friendly building practices are not in place. Many times a tree...
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