In May of 2007, a devastating EF-5 tornado destroyed more than 90 percent of the town of Greensburg, Kansas. At the State’s request, BNIM 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. BNIM also contributed to shaping the vision of the nonprofit Greensburg GreenTown, which was formed to help the city’s residents rebuild Greensburg as a model green community. In late 2007 and 2008, the firm prepared the first phase of a highly lauded 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.

Greensburg, KS
Completion: 2008

Integrating a high level of collaboration with the entire community, including City officials, City staff, Steering Committee members, and other stakeholders, the Greensburg Master Plan addressed 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; and Preliminary cost information for the suggested strategies.

2010 AIA Central States - Honor Award
2009 ASLA - National Honor Award | Analysis & Planning
2008 ASLA Prairie Gateway Chapter - ASLA Award
2008 AIA Kansas - Citation Award | Unbuilt/Commissioned Work
2008 Financial Times & Urban Land Institute - Sustainable Cities Award
2008 American Planning Association - Daniel Burnham Award for a Comprehensive Plan

The effect of the Sustainable Comprehensive Master Plan is evident in the progress in Greensburg, and many of the good ideas and recommendations have been implemented:

In response to the community goal to promote renewable options for energy generation, the City completed a 12.5MW wind farm that produces a 100% renewable source of energy for the town and enable the City to be a net exporter of energy.

On December, 17th 2007 Greensburg’s City Council became the first city in the country to adopt a resolution that all city projects would be built to LEED Platinum standards and would exceed the baseline code for energy efficiency by 42%. BNIM has since designed or consulted on four buildings designed to LEED Platinum standards.