Boston, MA
IBI Group
ASLA Honor Award
As part of construction of the MWRA’s Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant in Boston Harbor, a massive landform was required both to visually isolate the facility from the residential community and accommodate the recreational public as part of the National Park system. Since new soil materials required costly barge transportation to the island, reuse of all-available on-island earth materials and minimizing off-island borrow was essential. Project challenges included slope stabilization and designing a growing media from essentially impermeable native glacial till soils. Pine & Swallow designed soil mixes totaling more than 100,000 cubic yards that support the extensive plantings and create a low maintenance naturalized setting. Pine & Swallow also recommended appropriate plantings to stabilize slopes, add aesthetic value, and tolerate harsh New England coastline weather.
