Our new design of the Bronx River Comfort Station restroom facility harnesses green technology to promote sustainability. This unconventional facility features a composting toilet system and gray water garden which bypasses the city sewer system. Our system spares the typical pollution and saves water compared to the conventional flushing system. Not only does the facility expertly handle waste, the design creatively reuses it: hand-washing water is recycled into an irrigation system for the surrounding landscape. Although efficient, the facility is far from utilitarian: elegant, exposed wood rafters and generous skylights span the width of the rooms to maximize daylight. The natural colors and materials of the eco-restroom nestle into the surrounding vegetation.

Attuned to the global necessity of environmental sustainability, the building also functions as a teaching tool to educate the Bronx Zoo’s younger visitors. Children can see firsthand the mechanics of green technology and the importance of conservation.

Client: Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)

Structural: Dunne & Markis Consulting Structural Engineers

MEP: P.A. Collins P.E.

Civil: Leonard J. Strandberg and Associates

General Contractor: Summit Construction Services Group

Vendor: Clivus Multrum

Photographer: David Sundberg / Esto

Award:
2007, New York Construction Magazine, Best Environmental Project