Pratt Institute

Green Systems : Clean Water
A Professional Certificate in Urban Green Infrastructure
Pratt Institute Center for Continuing and Professional Studies

Open Request for Course Proposals (Submission Deadline July 15th 2012)

Green Systems : Clean Water is an innovative training program for professionals interested in learning how to incorporate green infrastructure into their practice.  Courses are offered by Pratt’s Center for Continuing and Professional Studies. 

New York City's move toward the implementation of green infrastructure to meet our national water quality standards represents both a tremendous teaching moment and an opportunity for workforce development.  Training in standard designs, regulations, permitting, construction, monitoring and maintenance of innovative tree pits, bioswales, green roofs and green walls will be critical for successful implementation of green infrastructure citywide.

The draft certificate curriculum was formed in collaboration with the Graduate School of Architecture’s Master of Science in Urban Environmental Systems Management, several City agencies, members of the American Society of Landscape Architects NY Chapter and private sector green infrastructure practitioners.

We are currently soliciting proposals from qualified professionals for the following courses:

Within the Required Fundamentals Track

    Green Infrastructure Data & Calculations a 7 hour seminar/lab

Within the Career Specialization Track

    Green Roof Design (GI and Buildings)
    3.5 hour seminar

    Public Right of Way Design (GI and Streets)
    3.5 hour seminar

    Innovative Green Infrastructure Design (GI and Sites)
    3.5 hour seminar

    Green Roof Construction, Maintenance & Monitoring
    3.5 hour seminar

    Public Right of Way Construction, Maintenance & Monitoring
    3.5 hour seminar

    Innovative Green Infrastructure Construction, Maintenance & Monitoring
    3.5 hour seminar

To the extent that our strategic planning meetings arrived at the desired content of each course, we have drafted preliminary course descriptions, including topic areas to be covered.  We are counting on the solicitation to bring outside expertise to the draft curriculum.  However, we recommend proposals be founded on the draft descriptions and address the listed topic areas. You will see that the courses are meant to build upon one another (note prerequisites for each course) please keep this in mind when drafting your proposals.  Below are the draft descriptions for each course in this solicitation.

Green Infrastructure Data and Calculations
7 hour seminar and lab
Tentative Fall Dates:  Saturday, September 15th and Saturday, October 13th

A classroom lecture, followed by a computer laboratory session that applies the general lessons learned in Drainage and Hydrology in NYC towards quantifying the stormwater management, urban cooling, and ecological productivity potential of green infrastructure applications.  The course will also touch on formulating cost estimates and maintenance schedules. Suggested topics to cover: where and how to gather appropriate data and how to calculate price per square foot, stormwater volume, percolation rates, one-inch storm capture potential, evapotranspiration rates and other values necessary to plan, size and manage a green infrastructure installation.  In the lab portion of the class, students will apply these hydrological principles and calculations to a conceptual project, working with an instructor’s guidance to determine appropriate sizing, functionality, and benefits of green infrastructure given the constraints of a site.

Topics Include: percolation rate, evapotranspiration rate, one-inch storm capture, stormwater volume calculation, catchment area, permeability rate, ecological productivity, maintenance schedule, project cost estimate, average flow rate, urban heat island reversal, pollutant binding rate

Prerequisites: PMPD 706 Drainage & Hydrology in NYC

Green Roof Design (GI and Buildings)
3.5 hour seminar
Tentative Fall Dates:  Thursday, September 20th (evening) and Saturday September 22nd

Students interested in green roofs, and green infrastructure on building surfaces, can choose to take this green roof design course. Students apply the lessons learned upon completion of the Fundamentals courses to gain an understanding of the design process of a green roof, from identifying specific code and site constraints such as structural loads and roof penetrations and slopes, to choosing appropriate materials and methods for a site. Different types of green roof constructions are introduced, as are various species of sedum and other plants commonly used in green roofs; students thus gain an understanding of the design palette used in this type of green infrastructure. Students also gain basic understanding of the proper permitting process for green roof designs.

Topics include: extensive vs. intensive green roof, green roof materials, roof penetrations, dead and live roof loads, green roof design process, plant choice, sedum, code restrictions, permitting.

Prerequisites: PMPD 706 Drainage & Hydrology in NYC, Green Infrastructure and Calculations

Public Right of Way Design (GI and Streets)
3.5 hour seminar
Tentative Fall Dates:  Thursday, October 4th (evening) and Saturday, October 6th

Students interested in bioswales, and other green infrastructure within the public right of way, can choose to take this public right of way design course. Students apply the lessons learned upon completion of the Fundamentals courses to gain an understanding of the design and regulatory processes of projects within the public right of way.  The course will cover identification of specific code and site constraints as well as choosing appropriate materials and methods for a site. Different types of right of way constructions are introduced, as are various species of native and other plants commonly used, students thus gain an understanding of the design palette used in this type of green infrastructure. Students also gain basic understanding of the proper permitting process for public right of way designs.

Topics include: various City agency jurisdiction, permitting, watershed delineation, stakeholder engagement.

Prerequisites: PMPD 706 Drainage & Hydrology in NYC, Green Infrastructure and Calculations

Innovative Green Infrastructure Design (GI and Sites)
3.5 hour seminar
Tentative Fall Dates:  Thursday, October 11th (evening) and Saturday, October 13th

Students interested in innovative green infrastructure projects that do not deal with rooftops or the public right of way, can choose to take this design course. Students apply the lessons learned upon completion of the Fundamentals courses to gain an understanding of the design process of green walls, constructed wetlands and living machines. Student will learn relevant code and site constraints as well as selection of the appropriate materials and methods. Varying types of innovative green infrastructure constructions are introduced along with various species of native and other plants commonly used in these systems; students thus gain an understanding of the design palette used. Students also gain basic understanding of the proper permitting process for these innovative designs.

Topics include: basic design of green walls, constructed wetlands and living machines, pollutant binding and nutrient breakdown potential, rainwater harvesting systems, wetland ecology

Prerequisites: PMPD 706 Drainage & Hydrology in NYC, Green Infrastructure and Calculations

Green Roof Construction, Maintenance & Monitoring
3.5 hour seminar
Tentative Fall Dates:  Thursday, September 27th (evening) and Saturday, September 29th

This course picks up at the conclusion of the design course, implementing the site constraints, materials, and methods of green roof design into the construction process. Students learn about proper construction order and layering of materials, assembly techniques, and necessary modifications to the existing roof. Additionally, the maintenance process of a green roof is explained, including weeding, watering, and general care for the plants, soils and other sensitive components of the system. Monitoring of system performance is emphasized as necessary to the long term viability of a green roof project, and various techniques for tracking the stormwater management, evaporative cooling, and ecological performance of a project relative to background data.

Topics include: green roof construction techniques, green roof performance, rate of water retention, roll out mat, tray systems, pressure gauge, weather station, temperature and moisture probes, weeding, compilation of database.

Prerequisites: PMPD 706 Drainage & Hydrology in NYC, Green Infrastructure and Calculations, Green Roof Design (GI and Buildings)

Public Right of Way Construction, Maintenance & Monitoring
3.5 hour seminar
Tentative Fall Dates:  Thursday, October 11th (evening) and Saturday, October 13th

This course picks up at the conclusion of the design course, implementing the site constraints, materials, and methods of public right of way design into the construction process. Students learn about proper construction order and layering of materials, assembly techniques, and necessary modifications to the existing infrastructure (curbs, sidewalks, etc.). Additionally, the maintenance processes for public right of way projects are explained, including weeding, watering, and general care for the plants, soils and other sensitive components of the system. Monitoring of system performance is emphasized as necessary to the long term viability of a green roof project, and various techniques for tracking the stormwater management, evaporative cooling, and ecological performance of a project relative to background data.

Topics include:  right of way construction techniques, performance and maintenance, rate of water retention and evapotranspiration, watershed delineation, use of monitoring equipment, including: pressure gauge, weather station, temperature and moisture probes, compilation of database.

Prerequisites: PMPD 706 Drainage & Hydrology in NYC, Green Infrastructure and Calculations, Public Right of Way (GI and Streets)

Innovative Green Infrastructure Construction, Maintenance & Monitoring
3.5 hour seminar
Tentative Fall Dates:  Thursday, October 18th (evening) and Saturday, October 20th

This course picks up at the conclusion of the design course, implementing the site constraints, materials, and methods of innovative green infrastructure design into the construction process. Students learn about proper construction order and layering of materials, assembly techniques, and necessary modifications to the existing infrastructure (walls, shoreline, etc.). Additionally, the maintenance processes for innovative green infrastructure projects are explained, including weeding, watering, and general care for the plants, soils and other sensitive components of the system. Monitoring of system performance is emphasized as necessary to the long term viability of a the project, and various techniques for tracking the stormwater management, evaporative cooling, resulting water quality, and ecological performance of a project relative to background data.

Topics include:  green wall, living machine and constructed wetland construction techniques and performance, rate of water retention, cycling and or evapotranspiration, roll out mat, monitoring protocol including use of pressure gauges, weather stations, temperature and moisture probes, maintenance plans, compilation of database.

Prerequisites: PMPD 706 Drainage & Hydrology in NYC, Green Infrastructure and Calculations, Innovative Green Infrastructure Design (GI and Sites)

Proposals will be reviewed by Pratt’s Center for Continuing and Professional Studies.  If you are interested in applying to be an instructor, please send a course proposal (deadline July 15th) with the following information:

A cover letter consisting of a 1 paragraph statement of purpose and the course(s) which correspond with your proposal(s).

Your CV, including relevant work experience, publications, speaking engagements and teaching experience.

A course outline of the topics to be covered and the length of class time spent on each topic.

Proposed learning objectives.

Course materials and readings

Please send your proposals in digital format by July 15th 2012 to:

Jaime Stein
Coordinator,
M.S.Urban Environmental Systems Management
Programs for Sustainable Planning & Development
Graduate School of Architecture
Pratt Institute
v. 718.399.4323
f. 718.687.5688
jstein9@pratt.edu