Transforming the Character of St. Mary's Way

7/2/2014

TRANSFORMING THE CHARACTER OF ST. MARY’S WAY: STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY GIVES LONG LIFE TO STREET TREES ON NEW GREEN BOULEVARD SUNDERLAND, UNITED KINGDOM

Sunderland urban design strategy, unveiled in 2008, aims to revitalize city centre via the following:

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Improving pedestrian accessibility Creating a people-focused identity Enhancing the public realm Attracting new investors

Original Image: Stanley Howe; “From the Queen Vic Hotel roundabout” (Sunderland); License: CC BY SA 2.0; color altered here, this version licensed under CC BY SA 2.0

Central to these goals is the realignment of the ring road connecting the riverfront to the city centre

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“The new road is designed to simplify traffic flow and improve the connection between Vaux, the city centre and the rest of Sunderland. The boulevard design would provide wider footways, a tree planted central reservation and a dedicated bus lane. Realignment of St Mary’s Way would also free up space to create a high quality pedestrianised public area, suitable for events or public gatherings.”

Quote from city council spokesperson in Construction Enquirer; Images: Google Earth

Street trees form an integral part of these goals

The introduction of street trees can play a vital role in establishing a distinctive, high quality environment. They contribute to the appearance and character of an area, filter dust and pollution, and help make streets feel quieter and calmer. At present there is limited street tree planting in the central area.

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From the Sunderland Central Area urban design strategy (2008), our emphasis in bold

Original Image: Stanley Howe; “From the Queen Vic Hotel roundabout” (Sunderland); License: CC BY SA 2.0; color altered here, this version licensed under CC BY SA 2.0

Trees are essential in reconfigurement of the ring road

There is significant opportunity to introduce further street tree planting particularly where existing streets and spaces are proposed to be reconfigured. Tree planting should be a priority along the ring road as part of its transformation into a “Great Street.”

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From the Sunderland Central Area urban design strategy (2008), our emphasis in bold

Original Image: Stanley Howe; “From the Queen Vic Hotel roundabout” (Sunderland); License: CC BY SA 2.0; color altered here, this version licensed under CC BY SA 2.0

“The creation of this new ‘green’ boulevard is seen as a crucial element in meeting the aspirations of potential investors and encouraging development whilst becoming a welcoming and accessible city centre approach, enhancing links to the port of Sunderland and the future new Business Quarter.”

James Gordon, Senior Landscape Architect for Sunderland City Council

5 Stills from 3D rendering video by Opsis: “St. Mary’s Way/Livingstone Road Sunderland Realignment”

Large specimen trees would help to attract businesses as much as pedestrians to the new development and gateway. But the City Council wanted not only to plant the trees near the roadways, but also to ensure their prosperity for future generations, having a goal for the tree planting scheme to be successful for at least fifty years. Silva Cells were specified for the project in order to meet these needs.

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The green boulevard will only succeed if the trees will last

Plan showing tree pit details for realignment of St. Mary’s Way, Sunderland City Council

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The Silva Cell is a modular suspended pavement system that is installed underground, providing a void space for uncompacted soil while also supporting the pavement above it. The system provides high soil volumes to support large tree growth and provide powerful on-site stormwater management, and is ideal for configuring hospitable environments for trees in dense urban sites.

Images by DeepRoot: Silva Cell schematics

“To assist us in delivering a new road realignment through Sunderland City Centre, DeepRoot played a key role in transforming the character of the highway network into a traditional tree lined avenue, allowing us to plant large specimen trees under footways and in close proximity to the road.”

8 Quote from James Gordon, Senior Landscape Architect for Sunderland City Council; Images by DeepRoot: Construction on St. Mary’s Way July 2013

The flexibility of the Silva Cell system permitted Gordon and the design team to work with the existing utilities and other features of the site while still providing adequate void space beneath the road to give the trees access to the nutrients required for a long life. Gordon explains: “In maximising the soil volume per tree whist providing suitable load bearing capacity, we are confident that we are giving the trees the best possible chance to thrive in this urban environment. DeepRoot’s design service allowed us to overcome complex constraints such as existing utilities, new surface water drainage systems and dealing with trees on such a large scale.”

9 Images by DeepRoot: Silva Cell and Roots schematic; Silva Cell installation on St. Mary’s Way, July 2013. Contractors: Balfour Beatty

10 Images: Silva Cell installation on St. Mary’s Way, January 2013. Contractors: Balfour Beatty

Altogether, 1,772 (Silva Cell) frames and 866 decks were installed in a two layer system along the new boulevard, bringing 16.18 m3 (571.61 ft3) of soil volume to each of the 31 newly planted trees.

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Through this ambitious creation of a new, tree-lined pedestrian-friendly passageway, Sunderland’s vision of a vibrant and prosperous city centre is one tremendous step closer to realization.

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For more information on this project and using the Silva Cell in the United Kingdom,

contact Stephen Chatwin-Grindey:

For more information on the Silva Cell, please visit:

[email protected]

www.deeproot.com