Ford Rouge Center Industrial Redevelopment
Index:

Ford Rouge Center Industrial Redevelopment

Project Overview:

Environmental Storm Water Quality:

Green Roof: 

Energy Reduction:

Environmental Quality for Occupants:

Recycling:

Adaptive Reuse of Buildings:

Landscape Initiatives:

Reduction of Toxicity:

Awards and Certifications received to date:

Recycling:
The demolition of existing buildings and roadways offered an excellent opportunity to establish an on-site concrete crushing operation that generated recycled aggregate for use as a sub-base under the new plant floors.  Recycling has been employed in many aspects of the Ford Rouge Center, including recycled reuse of demolition debris; sorting and reclamation of recycled material; specifying material that were easily disassembled and recycled; and incorporating previously recycled materials.  According to Jamie Claypool of Arcadis-Giffels: “The matter of selecting environmentally responsible interior materials was identified early on as an important sustainable consideration. All project stakeholders were assembled and given clear choices, with the aid of data and samples, regarding use of sustainable vs. conventional material selections. The overriding commitment of the team to implementing sustainable solutions led to a comprehensive selection of environmentally responsible materials including linoleum, ceramic tiles, low emission paints and others.” 

Portions of the historic Glass Plant and Annex facility were saved from demolition to be adapted for new functions.  The Glass Plant was changed from the glass furnace area to a “flex space” that can adapt to be a greenhouse, special events area, or open workshop.  The Glass Annex facility was renovated from an open production space to an upper level conveyor enclosure above an administrative training area.  The adaptive reuse design saved construction demolition and disposal costs as well as expenditures for new materials.  These structures that were originally slated for demolition became an opportunity for sustainable and economic development.  According to Rick Shriner of Arcadis-Giffels: “Restoration and reuse of the Glass Plant served not only as “sustainable” initiative, it also preserved an Albert Kahn architectural monument. His work in the 1920’s using steel construction, roof monitors, and natural lighting carried industrial architecture forward more than any other contemporary industrial building. Saving the structure seemed only fitting in lieu of the Rouge Site’s National Historic Landmark Status.”

Landscape Initiatives:

Swales were paralleled with indigenously planted hedgerows to provide an east-west linear pattern across the overall site.  From within the geometric backdrop, other landscape initiatives and building features became figural.  A visual mapping of the site was reinforced by a more formal order and scale along primary roadways, while secondary roadways were planted less densely. The landscape master plan objectives included the reduction of impermeable surfaces; creating natural habitat; solar shading of buildings; employee spaces; aesthetics; natural treatment of storm water, and phyto-remediation.  The development of landscape initiatives surprisingly had some negative aspects to be considered, such as increased maintenance; increased water consumption; and the release of pollen and leaves.  The landscape associated with the Ford Rouge Center has established the base master plan for future development across the entire site.  According to Dan Ventamiglia of Arcadis-Giffels: “ A functioning, cost-effective, visually pleasing green screen was placed against selected plant facades. This was achieved through use of a nylon mesh surface stretched between adjustable horizontal angles on which climbing wines will grow.”

Reduction of Toxicity:

The materials proposed for the project were also reviewed for toxicity.  Products and materials that heavily involved a toxic composition of materials or required a production process that emitted toxins were identified as non-sustainable.  Alternative sustainable materials were presented for consideration.  The prime example of studying toxins was found in the selection process for the roofing membranes.  In an overly simplified brief, three roofing systems were judged against each other using the three basic criteria of quality, cost, and sustainability.  PVC single-ply roofing systems were judged as medium quality, cost effective, with a toxic character of non-sustainability.  The modified bitumen roofing systems were judged as high quality, high cost, and adequate sustainability.  The sustainable alternatives of TPO or FPO single-ply membranes rated as unproven in technology, low cost, and environmentally friendly.  The business case compromise was to use the highest quality roofing system on the main building structures and to assign the new TPO single-ply roof to secondary structures in order to minimize risk.