Stormwater Management

The best stormwater management systems mimic nature, integrate with the building and site design, and help reduce the damaging effects of urbanization.


Directing runoff to natural drainage systems like green roofs, rain gardens, infiltration beds, landscaped planters, and bioswales reduces flow and provides time for the runoff to be naturally cleansed before entering ecosystems. Implementing natural drainage practices also helps restore groundwater supplies, improve water quality, increase local biodiversity, and stabilize microclimates.

Amazon Headquarters

To support Amazon’s vision of creating a truly green headquarters campus, stormwater management techniques took the shape of outdoor art pieces, terraced rain gardens, and large landscaped planters that reflect and celebrate the company’s commitment to sustainability.

The GreenHouse Apartments

The GreenHouse Apartment development integrated code-required stormwater systems into the building design, managing site runoff while blending with the project aesthetics.

Cherry Crest Elementary School

The comprehensive stormwater management system at Cherry Crest Elementary School uses the site’s natural soil and landscape features as infiltration and bioretention areas to mitigate stormwater without installing costly detention tanks.

Riverview Elementary School

By taking advantage of an existing wetland on campus, stormwater management at Riverview Elementary School not only rehydrates the site but teaches students environmental stewardship by promoting a strong relationship to the natural environment.

Related Reading

Stormwater Systems in Urban Environments
Changes to Seattle’s Stormwater Code  added one more hurdle to an already challenging course. Our civil practice talks designing for urban spaces, navigating the Department of Ecology’s new requirements, and Seattle’s Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) standouts.