Green Spaces
Natural Area
The "bio-retention basin", or the Natural Area, as it's commonly known, is Webster
University's landmark green infrastructure. Orginally a murky, eyesore of a pond -
the space has been transformed into diverse habitats for a living lab and classroom. The layout was designed by a group of students from
Webster University alongside professionals from SWT Design.
The basin collects water runoff from half of Webster's buildings and parking areas and thereby reduces the amount of contaminants entering our storm water system and improving our watershed, wildlife habitats and natural communities.
Anheuser-Busch Rain Garden
The front of the East Academic Building houses the Anheuser-Busch Foundation Native
Plant Rain Garden.
This rain garden serves two main functions: to educate students and visitors about
water conservation, and mitigating and filtering run-off from the impermeable surfaces
that are associated with the building.
Sverdrup Outdoor Room
The Sverdrup outdoor classroom was designed to supply a patio-style space for the
campus community to gather and enjoy some native greenery and fresh air.
East Academic Building Green Roofs
The $29 million, 94,323-square-foot East Academic Building is home to many different environmental features - earning the building a LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council - including low-maintenance green roofs. The EAB roof features two seperate pieces of green roof with nearly 1,600 vegetation trays to help cool the building, improve air quality and aid in storm water management.
