Sited on the edge of a pond, the Regional Center of Excellence offers broad views of the campus green  space at Edison Community College. This 35,600 square foot academic and student life building is surrounded by a natural storm water mitigation system. Rainwater and collected pollutants drain from the parking lots and building into a series of vegetated swales planted with wetland species. The deep roots of the wetland plants cleanse the water as it is absorbed into the ground. From the swales, unabsorbed water drains to ponds for evaporation and settlement of heavy impurities. The swales and ponds filter out impurities and reduce the overall amount of water that drains to the municipal storm water system.

Image courtesy of The Collaborative Inc. 

Image courtesy of The Collaborative Inc.

The Regional Center for Excellence, designed by The Collaborative Inc., won 2007 Honor Awards from both AIA Ohio and AIA Toledo.

Rebecca A. Breitner is Marketing Director for The Collaborative Inc. in Toledo, Ohio and can be reached at rbreitner@thecollaborativeinc.com.