Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens

Rockford Park District

Arc Design Resources was the Civil Engineer for the new Nicholas Riverfront Conservatory and Gardens in Rockford, IL on the grounds of Sinnissippi Park.

As a major component of the Rockford Park District’s 100 year anniversary, the conservatory includes Leadership in Energy and Enviromental Design (LEED) to achieve a minimum Silver rating and possibly a Gold rating by the US Green Building Council.

As part of our LEED efforts, we have incorporated the following design elements into the site infrastructure: permeable pavements for the parking and driveway areas and bio-swales for capture of stormwater runoff, in addition to other green-minded design ideas like pedestrian friendly access and native planting areas that do not require maintenance or fertilizing. The total project also incorporates geo-thermal energy, roof gardens, solar energy and water reclamation to maintain the highest LEED ratings possible.