Environmental Impact

The Texas Trees Foundation released its Urban Heat Management Study in 2017 and noted the fact that Dallas is heating up faster than every city in the country except Phoenix. The study suggests tree planting and additional green space is needed to reverse these effects. The deck park will create more than five acres of brand new green space over a man-made concrete canyon.

Heat Island Effect in Dallas

Urban Heat Island Mitigation Techniques at Halperin Park

  1. Urban Vegetation: Green roof and tree canopies to reduce temperature of roof surface and surrounding air 

  2. Shading: Sun angle calculations shading to maximize shading areas

  3. Water: Interactive water features to reduce temperature of ground surfaces

Halperin Park Green Infrastructure Benefits

  • Lowers energy costs

  • Reduces stormwater management costs

  • Lowers exposure to harmful substances and conditions

  • Reduces energy consumption

Estimated Environmental Impact of Trees Planted at Halperin Park Over 20 Years

Halperin Park will feature a building made from mass timber (short for “massive timber”), an engineered wood product. An energy-efficient alternative building material, mass timber is natural, renewable and sustainable, offering a lower carbon footprint compared to traditional concrete and steel.

  • Sustainably harvested: Alternating trees are cut during the harvest of lumber for mass timber construction, allowing the remaining trees to grow twice as tall and not compete for natural resources. Additionally, two saplings are planted for every tree harvested, ensuring future forest growth and resources.

  • Reduced construction emissions: Columns, beams and panels made from mass timber on average weigh 1/5th the weight of concrete and steel materials, reducing shipping costs and requiring a smaller workforce to install. Furthermore, rather than materials being ordered in mass quantities, cut to size, and assembled on-site, much of the labor and fabrication for mass timber is done at factories off site using machines that allow precision cuts. This leads to lower labor costs and reduced waste.

  • Carbon sequestration: Trees absorb and store carbon dioxide during their growth, and mass timber products store that carbon throughout their lifespan, helping to combat climate change. 

  • Creates a healthy environment: Research is showing biophilic design incorporating wood and other natural materials into our buildings can reduce stress and contribute to good mental health.

Not only does it have positive environmental impacts, but mass timber has proven to be structurally strong and meet the same performance and life safety standards as concrete and steel structures.