BMW of Dallas
Belgard Hardscapes Provides 70,000 Square Feet of Permeable Paving Stones for Additional Parking
Every Project Starts with a Purpose
When AutoNation purchased an existing dealership at 6200 Lemmon Ave. in Dallas, Texas, they knew they would need to create additional parking to accommodate the influx of customers and inventory expected. However, the property that would come to be BMW of Dallas only had one area available for the extra parking: a grassy lot.
Developing additional impervious cover in this area would have created more stormwater runoff than government restrictions allowed. Belgard experts worked with BMW of Dallas to create a site solution that included permeable pavers.
Across the country, urban sprawl and the proliferation of impervious surfaces, combined with the transportation of rainwater through urban infrastructure, have had grave consequences for the natural hydrological cycle. Rising impermeability limits the recharging of soil water reserves, drying out soils that support plant life.
Dry soils are also more prone to erosion. Unable to leach through the surface, rainwater gathers sediment and pollutants, increasing surface runoff through urban infrastructure and into receiving waters. This affects communities environmentally and economically by increasing development and infrastructure maintenance costs.
Landscape architects and contractors are becoming more aware of their environmental footprint and are seeking solutions that not only comply with government restrictions but also reduce negative impacts. Careful stormwater planning helps account for natural systems while still allowing land to be developed for practical use.
The Solution
Solving for Style, Function, and Durability
A Belgard® Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement (PICP) system was chosen by installer Concrete Paver Systems to address the rising land development issue and stay within the existing footprint of the BMW of Dallas site. Permeable pavements answer both qualitative and quantitative needs for stormwater management. As water rains on the pavement, it seeps through to the ground, reducing surface flows, often even eliminating the need for sewers and manholes. The 70,000 sq. ft. PICP system installed at BMW of Dallas allowed for stormwater to be captured, detained and discharged in a controlled manner.
“As water rains down on the pavement, it begins its journey by seeping through the specially filled joints in the pavers, and then through the base aggregates, which naturally filter the pollutants,” said Chuck Taylor, Commercial Hardscapes Expert for Belgard. “As it travels down, the water is stored in the base, until it reaches the natural underlying soils and recharges the ground aquifers that filter the water while allowing pedestrian and vehicular traffic on the surface.”
Belgard ADA compliant Aqua-Roc™ pavers were chosen for a smooth, linear look that stands up to even the heaviest vehicular traffic. Aqua-Roc was chosen in Pewter with Charcoal accent pavers utilized to permanently mark parking stripes.
The Result
A Lasting Impression:
The Final Transformation
The BMW of Dallas parking lot is both environmentally friendly and visually appealing. Belgard ADA compliant Aqua-Roc™ pavers were chosen for a smooth, linear look that stands up to even the heaviest vehicular traffic. Aqua- Roc was chosen in Pewter with Charcoal accent pavers utilized to permanently mark parking stripes.
“Belgard was a great choice for this project not only because the permeable pavers were an attractive solution to the need for additional parking, but we were also able to work with BMW of Dallas as an experienced commercial site solutions provider for their storm water runoff issues,” said Micah North, sales representative for Belgard Hardscapes.
The project, which was completed in July 2010, has stood the test of time in being a viable solution to an ever-growing environmental problem. In May 2012, BMW of Dallas hosted a PICP demonstration for designers and city officials spraying over 500 gallons of water per minute on the permeable surface without any puddling or runoff.
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