Sustainable design depends on two primary factors - simplicity of design and environmentally sensitive practices. The urge to beautify important areas often results in over-design or temporary fixes. Similarly, in the rush to use materials that may lower initial costs, the long-term benefits of materials traditionally used in campus construction are often ignored. The result can be a mishmash of elements and materials. Instead, the site should be constructed with a consistency of materials and design throughout. Understanding and working with natural processes has long been the bedrock of our practice. In addition to practicing sustainable design before it even had a name, we have helped our clients develop more environmentally appropriate maintenance practices, conserve major trees and protect native soils and drainage systems. We believe that to be truly sustainable, a campus must rely on more than a series of isolated projects, such as rain gardens. Nature doesn’t work that way and campuses don’t, either. Creating truly sustainable campuses depends on the integration of good design, rigorous management and an understanding of and respect for natural processes. That’s what we do best.