TWM Contributors:
Serena Page, PE, PLS | Director of Water Infrastructure Services
Jeff Reis, PE, PTOE | IL Transportation Engineering Leader
Chris Kuester, PE, CFM | Land Development Project Manager
Engineering With a Future Focus
At TWM, sustainability isn’t just a trend or buzzword—it’s a core part of how we approach engineering solutions that are reshaping communities. As climate concerns, resource limitations, and environmental regulations continue to evolve, engineers are playing an increasingly key role in designing solutions that balance performance, cost, and environmental impact. From smarter transportation networks, structural infrastructure, and environmentally responsible land development to efficient water resource management and energy networks, our multidisciplinary teams work together to create sustainable designs that help reduce waste, improve efficiency, and create resilient systems. By introducing sustainable practices into our projects, we’re focused on meeting today’s demands while supporting a more sustainable tomorrow.
Why a Multi-Discipline Approach Matters
Sustainability challenges don’t exist in silos—and neither should the solutions. When our civil and structural engineers, transportation planners, water resource specialists, and geospatial experts work together from the beginning, we’re able to look at a project from every angle—and that leads to smarter, more efficient, effective, and economical solutions.
This collaborative approach ensures that every phase of a project benefits from an interconnected perspective—from how stormwater is managed on-site to how pedestrians move through a space. For example, integrating geospatial topographic data into early land development planning can improve site layout efficiency and preserve natural features. Or, our structural and water infrastructure groups might coordinate on a bridge design to manage stormwater in such a way to protect the surrounding environment or meet habitat preservation goals.
When all the pieces of a project align and fit together from the start, our teams are better positioned to identify shared opportunities that will reduce waste and redundancies, avoid rework, and come up with solutions that are better for the project, the client, and our planet.
The Power of Collaboration
Different areas of engineering bring a unique perspective—and when combined, they create powerful, practical solutions for sustainable progress. Each discipline contributes a key role. Our civil and structural engineers shape sustainability in land development, stormwater, and transportation systems. Our water infrastructure experts focus on smart water use and creating systems that minimize waste, while our geospatial and land surveying specialists provide the essential data that’s needed to ensure everything is in the right place from the start. Here’s how we’re bringing sustainable thinking to life and how it shapes our work.
Balancing Cost & Sustainability in Transportation Projects—Insights from Jeff Reis, PE, PTOE
Transportation engineering is driving sustainable change by reducing emissions and promoting multi-modal infrastructure in America’s cities. This has been a top priority over the years and both federal and local programs have focused on enhancing the environmental impact of transportation projects. From reducing traffic congestion to encouraging alternative modes of transportation, these efforts are paving the way for a greener, healthier future.
The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grants, initiated by the federal government, focus on projects that help reduce emissions, such as optimizing signal timing, adding additional traffic lanes, and reconstructing intersections. By transforming traditional intersections into roundabouts or signalized crossings, these projects not only improve traffic flow but also decrease vehicle emissions by minimizing idle times.
Another critical program, the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), encourages the construction of shared-use paths for cyclists and pedestrians. This initiative promotes sustainable travel options through alternative modes of transportation, helping communities reduce their reliance on cars. Similarly, the Surface Transportation Program (STP) grants prioritize projects that enhance the environment through sustainable practices, offering incentives for solutions, including:
- Bioswales for managing stormwater
- Rain gardens that improve water quality
- Pervious pavements that reduce runoff
- Green bulb-outs to add vegetation in urban areas
- Solar powered lighting fixtures to reduce energy consumption
For example, in the metro-east region in Illinois and Missouri, the Metro East Park and Recreation District (MEPRD), formed in 2000, has been instrumental in connecting parks and trails throughout Madison and St. Clair Counties. Local agencies have utilized grant funding from this District to provide transportation options with healthier, safer, and more sustainable paths. Notably, these projects often incorporate recycled materials, such as:
- Recycled asphalt pavement (RAP), which integrates repurposed asphalt into new mixes
- Crushed concrete pavement, used as a stable base for new roadways
- Pavement millings, repurposed for shoulder material to reduce waste
Additionally, renewable energy projects like wind and solar farms are rapidly growing, and transportation engineering plays a pivotal role in site planning, roadway assessments, and managing construction traffic. These projects often involve our help and also require permitting that we assist with as well. As these projects continue to grow, engineering firms are instrumental in providing solutions for safe, sustainable access routes and navigating the necessary permitting processes.
While sustainability is a top priority, it’s also important to consider cost when balancing environmental benefits. Grant funding can help supplement the cost of improvements, ensuring that the most impactful, cost-effective projects are prioritized. Projects with strong cost-benefit potential are more likely to receive funding, so transportation engineers must carefully assess and design projects that align with both sustainability goals and financial practicality.
Eco-Friendly Communities Through Smart Site Design—Shared by Chris Kuester, PE, CFM
As demand for more sustainable building practices grows, we’re seeing developers pursue more eco-friendly construction methods, especially in the educational and multi-family residential sectors. TWM’s Land Development Group is involved in a wide variety of projects, including residential subdivisions, educational institutions, commercial developments, and multi-family complexes. While sustainability elements are more commonly associated with the building shell—think roof-mounted solar panels, recycled construction materials, and energy-efficient electrical systems—our role in site design extends far beyond just the building itself.
Sustainability in land development starts at the very foundation of a project. As rainfall patterns across the United States become more unpredictable, managing stormwater runoff is critical to protect downstream properties. Traditional stormwater management often relies on detention basins, such as wet ponds with a normal pool or dry-bottom detention systems, which capture runoff from impervious surfaces and release it slowly into the receiving waterway. While these systems are effective at reducing peak runoff rates, they don’t fully address the overall volume of a site’s runoff, where the outflow hydrograph is lengthened and leads to higher runoff volumes over extended periods.
To reduce this ongoing issue, municipalities are turning to Low Impact Development (LID) strategies to encourage stormwater infiltration before runoff leaves the site. By capturing and infiltrating stormwater on-site, LID reduces the volume of water that enters local storm systems and waterways. This approach is particularly important in areas with combined sewer systems, where heavy rainfall can overwhelm infrastructure. Common LID solutions, such as bioretention ponds, permeable pavement, and green roofs, offer an effective way to reduce stormwater runoff while enhancing the sustainability of a project. TWM designed a bioretention pond at Sylvan Springs Senior Apartments in St. Louis County, MO to lessen the load on the region’s combined sewer system. A layered mix of soil and native plantings in the bottom of the pond promoted water quality for the infiltrated runoff. These solutions not only help mitigate flooding and reduce strain on existing sewer and stormwater systems, but they also provide environmental benefits, like improved water quality and better habitat for wildlife.
While LID elements may not always be required by local municipalities or stormwater districts, certain projects still need to meet sustainability efficiency standards. A widely recognized benchmark is the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. LEED provides a checklist of criteria that varies based on the site’s use and placement relative to public transportation and residential areas. These criteria cover a wide range of aspects, from stormwater management and energy efficiency to the number of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in parking lots and access to bicycle facilities.
For example, one of TWM’s projects incorporated multiple stormwater LID elements including bioretention and an infiltration pond, alongside renewable energy features like solar panels and a wind turbine. We partnered with Poettker Construction and FGM Architects for the design of the Pierce Terrace Elementary School on the U.S. Army’s Fort Jackson in South Carolina, which achieved LEED silver status upon completion. By integrating sustainable land development practices into the project from the start, we were able to enhance the building’s environmental performance and support long-term sustainability goals.
Pierce Terrace Elementary School, Fort Jackson, SC
As land development engineers, we can drive lasting changes across our projects—by integrating innovative stormwater management techniques and sustainable site design practices. Whether it’s residential, commercial, or institutional, we remain committed to designing spaces with functional and efficient amenities for the site’s users and surrounding communities, ensuring a greener, more sustainable future for all.
Harnessing Wastewater Reuse as a Sustainable Solution—Thoughts from Serena Page, PE, PLS
As water scarcity continues to become a more prevalent problem in the United States, wastewater reuse is emerging as a potential solution to help alleviate the strain on our water systems. While wastewater reuse is a common practice in many parts of the world, it’s a concept that is relatively underutilized in the U.S. Currently, most wastewater treatment plants discharge treated water into local streams or rivers, but rethinking this discharge process could lead to a more sustainable approach.
One example of this potential is a community in central Illinois where our water infrastructure engineers are exploring the possibility of redirecting treated wastewater back into their water treatment plant for reuse. This would create a nearly closed-loop system, where water is continuously reused with minimal waste. Not only would this help address water scarcity issues, it would also reduce the need for freshwater sources, conserving them for more critical uses.
However, while wastewater reuse presents a promising solution, it’s not without challenges. One significant concern is the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater. These “forever chemicals” can persist in water sources and pose a threat to human health and the environment. As regulations and technologies for addressing PFAS evolve, they may affect the speed and scope at which wastewater reuse becomes a widespread practice.
Even with the challenges, wastewater reuse represents a forward-thinking, sustainable way to tackle water scarcity. As treatment technologies continue to improve and more people realize the potential for reusing wastewater, these kinds of engineering solutions are poised to have a big impact on how water resources are managed in the future.
Sustainability as a Shared Goal
Sustainability is a multi-faceted challenge. That’s why integrating different engineering disciplines and cross-disciplinary teams is essential for achieving sustainability success. When engineers from various areas collaborate from the outset of a project, the result leads to solutions that are more impactful, efficient, and sustainable. Here are some benefits and factors that ensure effective outcomes:
- Comprehensive problem-solving for challenges that need to be addressed simultaneously
- Better resource management and cost efficiencies for all aspects and phases of a project
- Innovation through collaboration for fresh perspectives and feasibility
With advancements in technology, such as AI, GIS, and modeling software, it’s easier than ever for engineers from different disciplines to collaborate more effectively by sharing data and insights in real-time. These tools help identify potential issues early in the design process, streamline communications, gather and analyze geospatial data, and predict the environmental impact of various design options.
Ultimately, the goal is to approach projects with innovative strategies that address multiple layers of sustainability. By coming together, our teams at TWM are designing solutions that are stronger, smarter, and better for the environment, today and for the years to come.
Read more about TWM’s Transportation/Traffic, Land Development, and Water/Wastewater services. Check out more details about the Sylvan Springs Senior Apartments project.
