Nitsch Engineering designed several sustainable site systems for MIT’s unique 713,000-square-foot Ray and Maria Stata Center. In keeping with the landscape architect’s vision for the site – a New England-like microcosm consisting of simulated glacial elements such as drumlins and outwash features – Nitsch Engineering designed site systems to activate the landscape forms with “function.” Green design elements included runoff storage in landforms, created wetland systems for stormwater quality enhancement, water harvesting for toilet flushing, and solar powered pumping for stormwater quality “polishing” and irrigation of the wetland area. Nitsch Engineering’s work on the LEED®-Registered Stata Center received 2005 Engineering Excellence Awards from ACEC/MA and ACEC National.