These days, the grounds of the Virginia State Capitol Building in Richmond, Va., are a mix of the old and the new. Sited on Shockoe Hill, which overlooks the falls of the James River in downtown Richmond, the Virginia State Capitol today looks very similar to the way its original designer, Thomas Jefferson, envisioned it.
Things change after more than two centuries. Elevated levels of phosphorus and nitrogen in the waterway, both byproducts of modern life, are the leading causes of pollution in area rivers and the neighboring Chesapeake Bay. Couple that with the need to lessen demand on freshwater supplies, and it became increasingly clear that these were problems that would need solutions before they worsened.
Today, the capitol’s grounds and adjacent streets and alleys are in the midst of a project called “Greening Virginia’s Capitol.” The project includes the use of Pine Hall Brick’s StormPave permeable clay brick pavers in plazas and walkways, along with other innovative methods of storm water management, in an effort to preserve and protect the river that Jefferson admired from that hilltop.
As it is, the Virginia Capitol has a presence at once both singular and imposing. Modeled after an ancient Roman temple in the south of France, the stark white building has been a backdrop for many historic events: It was the seat of government in Virginia, the capital of the Confederacy and even a stand-in for the White House for exterior shots in television and movie productions.
Any renovation of the Capitol grounds, then, would require that the appearance be preserved. Use of StormPave helped keep the grounds strikingly similar to how they looked before the renovation. Years ago, genuine clay pavers had been set into place on the grounds. As part of the renovation process, those pavers were removed (and recycled), and virtually identical permeable clay brick pavers were used as replacements in some areas, with first-time installation of the same permeable pavers in others.
Beyond appearance, the project had two main goals: Reduce the amount of runoff treated off-site by reducing the amount of impervious surface, and reduce demand for water from the city for watering plants.
One way to reduce runoff is to allow storm water to filter naturally into the ground instead of washing across solid surfaces and carrying pollutants into the nearest storm drain. This is particularly important in this project, because downtown Richmond combines its storm water with sewage. Using a permeable clay brick pavement system means less water to treat, which saves money and results in cleaner water being discharged downstream into the James River.
In addition to StormPave, the project uses curbside bioretention planters, rain gardens, native plantings and rainwater harvesting to achieve runoff reduction goals. One of the most significant methods for rainwater harvesting came from an existing underground tank, originally intended to collect storm water. It has been modified to redirect storm water into the irrigation system on the grounds, thus reducing demand on the water supply during the warm months.
Ted Corvey is the vice president of sales and marketing for Pine Hall Brick Co. He can be reached at [email protected] or 336.779.6118.
