| A man to whom Terrapin owes much of our passion and focus passed away last month. Edward O. Wilson made multiple contributions to science and society. His focus on ants and their behaviors led to a sometimes controversial exploration of innate vs learned behavior in other species—sociobiology, a field in which he was a pioneer. […] — Read More
| The eco-chimneys are part of the Capitol Crossing eco-district, a bold urban infill project that spans more than three blocks and captures the air rights above an existing stretch of interstate I-395 in downtown Washington, DC. Project developers the Property Group Partners (formerly Louis-Dreyfus Property Group) sought Terrapin’s unique perspective to provide the sustainability strategies […] — Read More
| The green building movement and arguably the larger discussion about sustainability have progressed in scope and understanding over the last three decades. Terrapin staff have been at the heart of this journey. In retrospect, this progression can be understood as three distinct levels of sustainability, each with their own focus, and with direct and indirect benefits […] — Read More
| Inspired by Interface’s pioneering CEO Ray Anderson, who asked whether his factories could ever perform like a forest, “Factory as a Forest” is an ambitious project aimed at redesigning a manufacturing facility to function similarly to the local forest ecosystem. Terrapin, together with Biomimicry 3.8, co-developed a rigorous framework with specific performance targets and strategies […] — Read More
| As cities plan for the future, the best way to maintain the ecosystems’ services they rely on, including a freshwater supply, is to conserve water. — Read More
| Working with the Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, Terrapin used Phoebe (Framework for the Built Ecological Environment) to help develop their pilot Blue Economy Framework. The Blue Economy Framework is a strategic plan for coordinating the major stakeholders of watershed hydrology (industry, agriculture, municipal supply and wastewater, etc) around the goal of protecting water resources. — Read More
| Chris Garvin’s presentation and the other talks at Biomimicry 2016: The Road to Resiliency conference are now available online! — Read More
| Our Ecological Design Framework (referred to simply as “Phoebe”) focuses on the most impactful project opportunities that will result in positive change on-site and far beyond the project property line. Reframing traditional green building metrics and transforming them into bold built ecological goals provides a structured but open forum for teams to achieve meaningful ecological change. — Read More
| Terrapin helped the developer of a new master planned community create an energy and infrastructure strategy to achieve NZE for fixed income homeowners. — Read More
| Understanding how cities are intricately interdependent on ecosystems allows us to make strategic design decisions for regenerative and healthful cities. — Read More
| Biophilic urban acupuncture aims to reconnect people to nature by using targeted biophilic interventions in urban environments for better health outcomes. — Read More
| Terrapin’s publication Tapping into Nature explores the potential of biomimetic and bioinspired innovation and its value to businesses. — Read More
| As the impacts of climate change become more pronounced, the best strategies for adapting to extremes lie in our own backyard. — Read More
| “When the rain departs, the mosses’ sponginess retains water, then slowly releases it. Forests therefore nurture life downstream from themselves, shielding rivers from sudden muddy surges and sustaining flows during dry spells. Evaporation from the wet forest creates clouds of humidity and, if the forest is large enough, generates its own rain. We usually take […] — Read More
| Ecological restorationists no longer aim for natural restoration but healthy restoration – acknowledging both ecosystems’ flux and humans’ impact on them. — Read More
| Terrapin Partner Bill Browning will be a Keynote Speaker at the “Grey to Green” Conference in Toronto, ON, on August 25-26, 2014. — Read More
| The Framework for an Ecological Built Environment (“Phoebe”) is a set of tools for design decision-making and project evaluation. — Read More
| Bill Browning serves as an advisor to the board for the Center for Environmental Restoration, a Washington, D.C. based non-profit organization. — Read More
| Oberlin’s Adam J. Lewis Center for Environmental Studies is a building system that demonstrates concepts from the Environmental Studies curriculum. — Read More
| Big-picture performance strategies for Cacique, a 686 acre site in Costa Rica slated to become a world class destination for eco-resorts and residences. — Read More
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