Rendering image of the Urban Meadow in Harrisburg, PA. Photo courtesy of KAIROS DESIGN GROUP, LLC.Click the photo to enlarge.

The Urban Meadow is the primary pedestrian connection between the HACC Community Center for Technology and Art (on 4th Street) and the expanded HACC facilities at the recently renovated Evangelical Press Building (on 3rd Street) one block to the west. The Urban Meadow is a contemporary piece of urban design that addresses the core issues of public life in an ever-changing urban context while respecting the traditional needs and values of an existing community. Natural, indigenous elements from the Susquehanna River Valley are combined with new and recycled materials that are reinterpreted to create a unique, environmentally sensitive, and sculptural public open space.

Native trees such as River Birch are used to create a central allee. Sassafras and Serviceberry trees are planted in small groves that wrap and shelter open areas of lawn and granite seating created from salvaged granite slabs that were used historically as street curbs. A curvilinear series of sculptural earthworks are covered with ephemeral meadow grasses to create the unique and boldly sculptural quality of the Urban Meadow and distinguishes this area as a piece of nature "cut into a sea of asphalt parking." In an effort to reduce the negative impacts on the Susquehanna River ecosystem caused by the overflow of the combined sanitary and storm sewer system during rain events, storm water flowing off of the surrounding parking lots is collected in existing low areas where it is cleaned and treated by specialized flowering meadow plantings. New paving materials on Boyd Street and on axial pathways that connect to adjacent parking lots create a functional, comfortable and attractive pedestrian scale feel to the overall design. An innovative lighting design creates a safe, enjoyable and engaging nighttime environment allowing this space to function safely during the daytime and nighttime.

The Urban Meadow is a contemporary approach to providing public open space that is uniquely "Harrisburg." This small yet important public amenity helps to unite a historic mixed use neighborhood, a growing college community and a reinvigorating commercial, business, and entertainment faction of the Midtown area by providing a centralized common ground for public enjoyment and participation

 

Production Incentive Auctions to Support Large-Scale Projects in California and Pennsylvania

This case summarizes California's production incentive program and the difficulties it has faced, and then focuses on how Pennsylvania has attempted to innovate on California's approach to bring new wind capacity on line quickly and prior to the then-expected expiration of the federal production tax credit (PTC) for wind power at the end of 2001.

 

 

Use of Low-Interest, Subordinated Debt to Finance a Wind Project in Pennsylvania

The innovative offering of low-cost debt described in this case marks a significant departure from standard grant-based project support.

 

 

Utility Grid-Direct Photovoltaic System: Exelon-Conergy Renewable Energy Center

The Exelon project is an example of how state government, public utilities and private investors are supporting the large scale development of clean energy in the United States, in a manner that has been very successful in Europe.