Sustainability
Recycle. Remember. Re-imagine.
Remember the rules of the campground?
Take in and use only what you need
Take all your garbage with you
Leave the campground better than you found it
Respect the natural environment
At Klotz Associates we’re re-imagining our processes and offering our clients opportunities for sustainable design – which can save money, too. From stormwater management to sustainable roadways. Recycled concrete to native and renewable materials. LEED, LID, SSI or any sustainable criteria. Our fresh perspective helps clients balance economic development with environmental opportunities.
Klotz Associates provides award-winning engineering designs while focusing on practical, workable solutions for our clients. We’re identifying new ways to meet the needs of today without compromising the resources of tomorrow.
Sustainable. Affordable. Liveable.
Klotz Associates identifies and implements the sustainable practices that build our communities.
New Sustainability Project . . .
Memorial Park's Living Bridge
The Living Bridge is Houston's newest landmark. It is a much needed safe trail connection crossing Memorial Drive. The idea of a Living Bridge was born out of a design competition sponsored by the Memorial Park Conservancy, Rice Design Alliance and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department.
The design focused on sevaral key elements including park integration, green solutions, low impact and access for all. The growth of native plants used continuously will create a bridge that appears to be supported by vines. We are proud to be part of the new bridge - another testament to Houston's commitment of being more environmentally-conscious and outdoor-friendly.
Texas A&M University System Parking Lot Reconstruction
The Texas A&M University (TAMU) System Building had a severely deteriorated parking lot. The pavement had outlived its useful life. TAMU selected Klotz Associates to develop rehabilitation / reconstruction strategies to solve the paving problem. This included construction phasing that would not adversely impact tenants and staff working in the building.
Klotz Associates' Harvey Treybig developed alternative designs for the parking facility that included total reconstruction with all new materials. This option required removal and replacement of all existing failed materials. A second scheme was also developed which reclaimed the existing asphalt surface and the in-place flexible base material. By mixing the reclaimed surface and base materials with Portland cement, the existing material was not only reused, but it resulted in a "better," more sustainable material. The reclaimed material was compacted in place and surfaced with two inches of new hot-mixed asphalt concrete. The reclamation option reduced haul-off of material by 75% and was also less costly than the total reconstruction alternate.
This approach involved several sustainable site practices: (1) reduced import and export of base materials by 75%, (2) diverted waste materials from a disposal site, (3) allowed construction to proceed in zones so occupants were not greatly inconvenienced, (4) provided TAMU with an excellent sustainable solution consisting of reuse and repurposing of materials, and (5) due to a shorter construction period, exposed the disturbed site for a reduced period of time than was otherwise possible.
