2.4 General Site
Flood Plains. No buildings shall be built within the 100
year flood plain. Buildings designated as "critical actions"
Planning Criteria
(such as courthouses) shall not be built within the 500
year flood plains. Exceptions must be approved by the
customer agency, PBS Assistant Commissioner for
Portfolio Management and by the Chief Architect.
Existing Site Features and Existing Vegetation. Existing
If the building location is approved, mechanical and
natural features on the site should generally be preserved
electrical equipment rooms must be located 1500mm
and be used as a starting point for the overall site design.
(5 feet) above the level of the 100 year flood plain. For
Efforts should be made to preserve existing vegetation,
further information, see GSA order, GSA ADM 1095.6:
particularly healthy trees and plant specimens. GSA
Consideration of Floodplains in Decision Making, and
promotes the protection and integration of existing
the GSA PBS Floodplain Management Desk Guide found
vegetation and natural terrain into site design.
Energy Conservation. The use of site design to aid energy
conservation and sustainability is encouraged. Solar
orientation of the building and well placed plant material
can be used to increase heat gain in the winter and reduce
heat gain during the summer.
Environmentally Sound Practices. GSA promotes
practices that are environmentally beneficial and conserve
resources. Landscape designs and plant materials should
reflect regional environmental concerns and promote
minimal use or elimination of both chemicals and potable
water for irrigation. Design and construction strategies
should reduce stormwater runoff and polluted site water
runoff. See www.lowimpactdevelopment.org for
guidance.
Building Separation. Building separation and require-
ments for rated exterior walls and openings for protec-
tion from exposure by adjacent buildings or hazards
shall comply with the requirements of the International
Building Code (IBC).
Architectural model, U.S. Courthouse and Harborpark, Boston, MA
33
SITE,
LANDSCAPE
AND
COMMUNITY
DESIGN
2.4
General Site Planning Criteria
Revised March 2005 PBS-P100
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