BNIM Wins International 2008 Sustainable Cities Award for Greensburg, Kansas
Download Greensburg’s LEED Platinum Resolution
Download Summary of Greensburg Community Goals
Download High Resolution Rendering of Downtown Greensburg
Greensburg, Kansas Press Release

Greensburg, KS Sustainable Rebuilding

On May 4, 2007, a powerful EF5 tornado flattened 95% percent of the town of Greensburg, Kansas. At the State’s request, BNIM Architects became an early contributor to the town’s initial recovery efforts, working with community members and town officials as well as local, state and federal organizations like the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Comprehensive Master Plan Phase I

In October 2007, the firm was selected formally by the City of Greensburg, with support from the USDA, to prepare the first phase of a comprehensive master plan to rebuild the city, which provides a framework for the rebuilding of Greensburg based around the principles of economic, social and environmental sustainability.

Integrating a high level of collaboration with the entire community, including City officials, City staff, Steering Committee members, and other stakeholders, Phase I of the Greensburg Master Plan addresses the City’s most pressing development needs including:

• Design goals and principles for rebuilding
• A conceptual design scheme for downtown Greensburg
• Zoning refinements, infrastructure analysis and a future land use map
• Preliminary housing policy recommendations
• Streetscape design guidelines for signature streets (Main Street, Hwy 54)
• Preliminary energy-efficiency and policy recommendations
• A strategy for building a highly walkable community
• A conceptual parks and open-space layout

Structuring the planning development to be collaborative and consensus-based, BNIM established a process that ensures that the Greensburg community will have the opportunity to react to the research, thoughts and illustrative designs created by the Project Team. Through a Community Workshop or through a number of public input alternatives, the public and the Project Team is establishing a strategy for redevelopment. A closing Town Hall Meeting will be conducted to present the final draft of the Plan. After adjusting the planning scenario to reflect community feedback, final presentations will be held with the Project Team, the Public Square Steering Committee and the Council.

Project documentation includes diagrams, maps, anticipated benefits to the community, strategies for implementation, the rationale for recommendations and an executive summary of the purpose, goals, process and implementation strategy.

LEED® Platinum Resolution

On December 17, 2007, the City Council adopted a resolution that all city buildings greater than 4,000 square feet must be certified LEED Platinum, making Greensburg the first city in the U.S. to pass such a resolution. BNIM Architects worked closely with the city to draft the resolution and to educate the community on the benefits of mandatory LEED Platinum certification. The resolution is in line with the overall sustainable rebuilding objectives in the Comprehensive Master Plan.

Sustainable Comprehensive Master Plan Adopted

The BNIM Planning team presented the final draft of Greensburg’s Comprehensive Plan to the City Council and to a public hearing on January 16, 2008. The plan includes specific recommendations regarding Downtown, Walkability, Built Environment, Economic Development, Energy, Housing, Parks and Green Corridors, Infrastructure and Future Land Use. It is important to recognize that every recommendation within the Master Plan came from the citizens of Greensburg through an extensive public planning process. Following BNIM’s presentation of the plan, the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council adopt the document as the Plan of Record. On January 22, 2008, the City Council adopted the plan unanimously and with great enthusiasm. It now serves as the guiding document for the rebuilding efforts in Greensburg.

Timeline

• May 4, 2007 – EF-5 Tornado destroys over 90% of building stock in Greensburg, Kansas, located in the southwest portion of the state.
• May, 2007 – Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius recommends that Greensburg rebuild “Green,” and the Mayor of Greensburg began to position the City to do just that.
• May, 2007 – The Kansas Corporation Commission Energy Office approaches Bob Berkebile to help consult the City on sustainable rebuilding.
• May - June 2007 - At the State’s request, BNIM Architects became an early contributor to the town’s initial recovery efforts, working with community members and town officials as well as local, state and federal organizations like the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
• July, 2007 – BNIM planners and architects help facilitate a Design Workshop in Greensburg.
• August, 2007- BNIM is asked by the State of Kansas to act as sustainable architecture consultant on a number of key projects: Hospital, County Courthouse, Business Incubator and City Hall.
• August, 2007 – BNIM planners and designers assist FEMA in publishing Greensburg’s Long-Term Community Recovery Plan.
• September 2007 – BNIM is asked to manage DOE Grant Monies for an energy rater program, that has now successfully created one “green collar” job in Greensburg.
• October, 2007 - BNIM is selected formally by the City of Greensburg, with support from the USDA, to prepare the first phase of a Comprehensive Master Plan that provides a framework for the rebuilding of Greensburg based around the principles of economic, social and environmental sustainability.
• October, 2007 – BNIM planning team, under the direction of the City, facilitates a decision about Greensburg’s downtown layout so businesses can break ground on new building projects.
• October, 2007 – BNIM collaborates with the City, the National Renewable Energy Laboratories, and consultant John Picard to create a City-wide strategy for renewable energy generation.
• November, 2007 –Community Goals developed through the Comprehensive Master Planning process is adopted by the citizen Steering Committee, the City Council and the Business Redevelopment Group as guidelines to lead the city’s rebuilding efforts.
• November, 2007 – Greensburg’s City Administrator and a group of high school students attend GreenBuild 2007 in Chicago.
• December, 2007 – With assistance from BNIM and NREL, the City resolves that all city buildings greater than 4,000 square feet must be certified LEED Platinum, making Greensburg the first city in the U.S. to pass such a resolution.
• December, 2007 – BNIM is asked by the City of Greensburg to create detailed Design Guidelines for the downtown district, and a detailed streetscape design for Main Street.
• December, 2007 – A Community-Wide Comprehensive Plan Workshop is held to discuss the plan with the larger community. Nearly three hundred citizens come to give feedback and hear an update on City projects.
• January, 2008 – BNIM planners present the completed master plan to the City Council for final response and feedback.
• January, 22 2008 – The Greensburg City Council, upon the recommendation of the Planning Commission adopts Phase 1 of the Sustainable Comprehensive Master Plan created by BNIM and the City.
• January, 2008 – BNIM is retained by the City of Greensburg to design the City Hall and Big Well Museum.