Regarded as the “Grand Central Station of the West,” the Transbay Transit Center will be a significant transportation hub by networking 11 transportation systems together in one place. 

Working with the large project design team, a 5.4 acre rooftop public park was developed. Responsibilities included an intensive site assessment, development of the water reuse system, including regulatory agency coordination; design of the constructed graywater wetland; green roof design and consultation; plant pallet research; habitat opportunities; and LEED consultation. 

The water reuse system, though mainly unseen, is one of the innovative design components of the building. It combines stormwater from the rooftop park and graywater from lavatory sinks which is ultimately used to flush toilets. A biofiltration process, which is accomplished by a constructed wetland, is included as a means to “polish” the graywater. The wetland filters out pollutants and toxins by means of the growing media and plant roots from specifically chosen plants. This rooftop wetland provides an avenue to educate the public and provide water quality data for further study. 

In addition, efforts were made to educate the landscape architect about California native plant communities that would be appropriate for the rooftop park as well as creating habitat for species such as birds and butterflies. In the end, efforts contributed to greater plant diversity and more native plants in the plant pallet, thus creating a place that fosters a strong connection to the local ecosystems situated in a dense urban environment.