SITES Pilot Project

Novus International is taking another step towards making all of our business practices more sustainable and environmentally responsible by renovating the landscape of our Headquarters, which has been selected as a pilot project for the Sustainable Sites Initiative.  The landscape enhancement plan aims at restoring and improving the services and benefits that ecosystems offer in their natural setting, including environmental, social, and economic aspects. We're focusing on habitat restoration through improving the water and soil quality along with diversity of native, low maintenance vegetation and microhabitats. The overall goal of the landscape restoration is to create a healthy, diverse, and sustainable environment that encourages human interaction and use, in concert with native species.

Aquatic Habitat Restoration

All of the storm water on site is transferred to a detention basin before it ultimately seeps into the water table. Part of our enhancement plan is to renovate the basin, creating a healthy and diverse aquatic habitat, but also a social area for human use. Employees can enjoy the scenic view from many perspectives: HQ building windows, extended patio/cafeteria seating, rock steps that lead down to the water's edge, or the pavilion overlooking the water. The pavilion will serve as an informal meeting and gathering place for employees, or an addition outdoor conference space fully equipped with wireless internet, ceiling fans, low impact lighting, and a green roof. The green roof provides wildlife habitat and a rainfall sink, as well as providing natural cooling during hot summer days. Near the pavilion site, users will be able to admire a sundial sculpture during the day, and access to further patio space and a fire pit at night. The renovation will transform the basin from a sediment-polluted, lifeless transient pool to a beautiful outdoor gathering area rich with wild flora and fauna.

Walking Trail and Microhabitat Restoration

Just as the health of the wildlife and habitats is a target of our landscape redesign, so is human health and well being. In order to promote physical activity and fitness, the plan features a walking trail available for public use that encircles Novus HQ. As site users walk along the trail, they will journey in and out of restored microhabitats including meadow, aquatic, woodland, and edge habitats. As the permeable trail winds around the campus it follows a sound and wind barrier fence row that separates Novus HQ from the highway. On this section of the trail, site users will be immersed in a woodland habitat as they walk along the tree- lined path. The trail also meanders through restored prairie along the main entrance and parking lots with pollinator-friendly meadows outside the café and bordering the aquatic habitat of the renovated detention basin.

All of the microhabitats feature native, low maintenance, sustainable vegetation that aims to attract a diverse group of native wildlife populations. The native vegetation is planted in addition to the removal of exotic, invasive species. The native prairie grasses and flowers in the meadow habitat outside the café provide a butterfly garden. The enhancement plan also includes a berry bramble and honey bee hive. On-site beehives will demonstrate the importance of pollinators in ecological systems, particularly to agricultural productivity, as well as provide hands-on training for Novus employee beekeepers. The habitat restoration allows wildlife to use the site as a traveling corridor and provides a resting oasis for migrating birds. 

Bioswales and Storm Water Management

Impervious surfaces, like parking lots, generate large amounts of polluted run-off due to the automotive build-up that is flushed away with rain water. In order to reduce the amount of harmful run-off on site our parking lots will feature bioswales made from river rocks and native plants. As rainwater runs off the asphalt, enters the bioswales, which naturally filter out sediments and pollutants before the water reaches our detention basin.   This form of natural water treatment is low maintenance and ensures that the water quality in the detention basin is suitable for a healthy aquatic habitat. The river rocks, varying in size, shape, and color, also give the bioswales a very natural look to improve the aesthetics of the parking lot. The overall site also features dry stream beds and rock ledges on steep hillsides to aid in storm water management and to minimize erosion.

On-site Vegetable Garden

Physical activity is only one component of human health and wellness. A sustainable vegetable garden promotes healthy eating as well as mental restoration. The garden comprises three rock terraces on a hillside adjacent to the employee parking lot. All produce harvested will supplement healthy lunches that are provided for all employees in the Novus café.   Interested employees are encouraged to help with the gardening tasks as a stress outlet and outdoor activity. Rainwater, pumped from an underground deep well using the power generated by an on-site windmill, provides garden irrigation.

Biomonitoring

 Insect surveys                                    Water quality monitoring                  Bird survey

The landscape redesign encourages human use and interaction; even our biomonitoring activities integrate Novus Green & F.I.T. Teams, along with local partners from the University of Missouri  and the St. Louis Zoo . All employees are encouraged to participate in regular water quality sampling and wildlife surveys, the latter ranging from bird walks and butterfly counts to amphibian and invertebrate surveys. The overall purpose of the biomonitoring is to discover and document what is currently on site, quantify changes with the landscape enhancements, as well as create awareness and promote environmental education.

What's Happening Now?

View the Construction Before and After