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Chicago Botanic Garden
North Lake & Fruit and Vegetable Garden Island

This project marked a professional milestone for Living Habitats as it represented a new level of showcasing the native shoreline plantings that now greet visitors as they enter this venerable institution and pass by the North Lake. The shoreline restoration was originally appreciated as important green infrastructure, however, it took the establishment of a handful of other successful projects at the Chicago Botanic Garden for the idea of native plantings to be fully embraced as not only a highly performative solution, but also one that exhibited a high level of aesthetic beauty at this world-class botanic garden.

Though we often celebrate the aesthetic victories of this project, as a United States Army Core of Engineers (USACE) funded project, the work involved a strong commitment to ecological improvements in the North Lake and the broader Skokie River Watershed. The entire perimeter of the North Lake was reconstructed and replanted, stabilizing what had become a scarred and degraded edge condition that seriously compromised water quality. By integrating hundreds of perennial species suited to the environmental constraints, we designed a solution that is equal parts beauty and function. The deep-rooted characteristics of the native palette served to stabilize and protect the edge conditions while promoting infiltration of water and resiliency in the face of frequent flooding. The native plants were integrated with several cutting-edge structural solutions that helped to reinforce the native species’ root systems natural ability to protect the shoreline from erosion. These shorelines continue to be tested by very difficult urban stressors and have exceeded all expectations of performance.

Perhaps the most significant design challenge Living Habitats faced in the North Lake project was at a narrow bridge crossing to the Fruit and Vegetable Garden Island. In this narrow channel between islands there was massive existing shoreline erosion with a ten-foot vertical slough face surrounding the bridge. Built in the 1970’s, the bridge includes lovely limestone bulkheads that allowed us to dovetail a custom stone terraced garden stepping from high ground into the water. This new and iconic entry element has both addressed the much-needed stabilization strategy, but also houses seasonal displays that are a hallmark of the Fruit and Vegetable Garden Island’s programming.

 

Location:
Glencoe, Illinois

Date:
2010 – 2012

Team:
LIVING HABITATS: Prime Consultant

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS: Project Funder & Construction Manager

Awards:
2013 USEPA & Chicago Wilderness Conservation and Native Landscaping Award, Chicago Botanic Garden Shoreline Restoration Program

2013 Landscape Architecture Foundation, Landscape Performance Series Case Study, Chicago Botanic Garden Lake Shoreline Enhancement Projects

2013 North American Lake Management Society, Chicago Botanic Garden Technical Merit Award for Lake Restoration, Protection and Management

2013 Illinois American Society of Landscape Architects Landscape Architecture Performs Publication, Chicago Botanic Garden Lake Shoreline Enhancement

2014 Illinois Contractors Association Gold Award, Chicago Botanic Garden Shoreline Restoration

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