News
Senior Scientist, Damon Oscarson M.Sc. joins GEE staff at NYC office!
Formerly the Director of Stewardship and Conservation Science at Westchester Land Trust, Damon has considerable experience with the ecological issues facing private and public entities today. Damon also has significant experience evaluating and conserving vernal pool habitats which he gained during his graduate work at the University of Maine in Orono where he received his Masters degree. Damon is an expert herpetologist and has worked with reptiles and amphibians throughout New England, New York, and New Jersey. We are very excited to add Damon to our team!
New San Diego Office!
GEE is proud to announce it’s new office location in the San Diego area! The new office is located at 1903 Wright Place Carlsbad, CA.
Union Pier Community Meeting February 9th
The Union Pier planning team, led by Cooper, Robertson & Partners, will be presenting a plan concept at a community meeting on February 9th at 12:30pm at the Passenger Terminal.
Sarah Welch at Knovel Green Engineering Event!
Our very own Sarah Welch was recently invited to sit on a panel at the Green Engineering: Sustainability and its Impact on Design and Innovation event in Santa Ana, California on February 8th, 2010!
Union Pier Plan Underway!
GEE is proud to join the Cooper, Robertson & Partners planning team in the production of a waterfront master plan in Charleston, SC. More information about this pier redevelopment project can be found at www.unionpierplan.com.
Fort Totten North Park Recognized
The Architect’s Newspaper recently published an article about the new park. GEE was asked to help influence the ecological settings of the park by Nancy Owns Studio. Click here to view the article.
Strategic Alliance with Steven Danzer, Ph.D.
GEE is pleased to announce a strategic alliance with Steven Danzer, Ph.D., noted Connecticut wetlands expert and based in Stamford, CT. Visit Dr. Danzer’s website here.
Mark Laska to Present at BuildBoston
Mark Laska will be presenting on “ecological urbanism” at BuildBoston on Wednesday, November 18th. He will discuss two GEE projects, the Randall’s Island salt marsh restoration, and the Croton Water Treatment Plant ecological systems.
Other panelists include:
Tim Love AIA, LEED AP, Utile, Inc. - Boston, MA
Shauna Gillies-Smith, Ground Landscape Architecture - Somerville, MA
Matthew Gordy Principal, On Land, LLC
Scheri Fultineer Principal, Reisen Design Associates - Cambridge, MA
BuildBoston Workshop A47 - Landscape and Urbanism - 1:00 - 2:30 pm
Landscape urbanism, ecological urbanism, agricultural urbanism . . . all new branches (or nuanced branches) of thought that investigate the relationship of landscape architecture to sustainable contemporary urban design. With the recognition of global warming, dwindling resources, increased population and urbanization, there is a rapidly growing realization that we need to relearn how to design, and live in, our urban human (and other) habitat. This panel brings together a diverse group of landscape architects, urban designers, ecologists and planners to consider specific landscape frameworks and strategies that positively impact the structure, experience and longevity of our cities.
Interest Area(s) Landscape Design ; Urban Design / Community Design / Public Art
Sponsored by Boston Society of Landscape Architects
Portion of Keasby Area in Woodbridge Township Designated a BDA by NJDEP
GEE is excited to promote the recent announcement of the Brownfield Development Area (BDA) designation of the Keasbey portion of Woodbridge Township, New Jersey by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). This designation will allow the Township to receive up to $5 million each year from the NJDEP Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund for the remediation and redevelopment of this approximately 360-acre area of land located along the Raritan River. The largest property within the BDA is the 180-acre Former Nuodex Corporation Facility Brownfield site, currently owned by the El Paso Corporation of Houston, Texas. As the ecological consultant for El Paso’s remediation project, GEE is helping the development of an extensive restoration of the degraded Raritan River waterfront in this region, beyond just the El Paso site and is hopeful that this additional funding will make this ecological vision a reality. This opportunity will also streamline regulatory compliance efforts with the State, through a single case manager who has the opportunity to incorporate a holistic approach to land use planning in the BDA versus addressing each individual property separately.
On October 6, 2009, Mark Mauriello, acting Commissioner of the NJDEP, held a press conference at the El Paso site to announce the recent BDA designation. Members of the NJDEP, Woodbridge Township, local property owners, environmental consulting firms, and other local organizations gathered at the site to discuss the positive impact of the designation and impressive plans for the redevelopment of this area. The Mayor of the Township, Honorable John E. McCormac, was particularly enthused by this designation as it will support economic and ecological revitalization of this area that has remained stagnant for decades. In his speech, he alluded to the Township’s plans to promote green development, including renewable energy facilities, within the BDA that will provide for sustainable business opportunities and public enjoyment and access along the Raritan River waterfront.
Also sharing the spotlight at the event were representatives of the El Paso Corporation, Mark Ferris and Brian Johnson. Although the funding will not be directly available to El Paso as the principal responsible party undertaking a site remediation on their property, El Paso expressed their support of the Township’s ongoing efforts to improve this degraded area. El Paso, who has already spent millions of dollars on the environmental cleanup and ecological restoration of their 180-acre property, applauded the support of the Township and other local stakeholders, such as the Edison Wetlands Association, and their commitment to enhancing the economic and ecological viability of the area.
Links to articles published about the Woodbridge BDA designation:
GEE at Wildlife Habitat Council Symposium!
GEE is exhibiting at the Wildlife Habitat Council Symposium held in Baltimore on November 9 and 10. Stop by our booth and talk to GEE staff!
