Catalyst Partners Demonstrates Leadership in Stormwater Management and Biodiversity Through Low-Impact Development, Achieving Net-Positive Environmental Outcomes

Catalyst Partners, a Grand Rapids-based consulting firm with a team of 15 staff and 12 consultants, embodies its motto: “Practicing, not Preaching.” The company’s headquarters on Second Street NW, situated in the lower Grand River watershed, showcases a decade of low-impact development strategies, including rain gardens, bioswales, and a green roof, all designed to mitigate stormwater runoff and increase local biodiversity.

“In this industrial area of the city, we want to be an oasis of green space and biodiversity,” says Eric Doyle, former Director of Business Development. “By returning the area surrounding our building to a natural landscape, we can educate the community on responsible stormwater practices while creating habitats for wildlife.”

The project has not only improved local water quality and habitat diversity but also eliminated flooding issues and provided a visible example of environmental stewardship in an urban setting.

Green Stormwater Infrastructure in Action

Before implementing its rain garden and bioswale, Catalyst Partners’ property was a brownfield site requiring extensive remediation. The team removed 280 cubic yards of contaminated soil at a cost of nearly $600,000, paving the way for a sustainable redevelopment. Grants from the State of Michigan partially offset the $5,000 investment in native plant landscaping.

The landscape now features four sections representative of historic West Michigan ecosystems: tall grass, dry prairie, woodland, and wetland. Together, they capture surface runoff, filter contaminants, and support local wildlife, while permeable paving and sand/gravel layers stabilize soil and manage stormwater flow.

The rain garden, bioswale, and green roof work together as a closed-loop system. Runoff collected on the roof waters wetland plants, and the restored landscape mitigates stormwater previously discharged into the Grand River. Catalyst Partners estimates that 4,662 gallons of stormwater runoff have been retained on-site, preventing pollutants from reaching Lake Michigan.

Education is integral to the project. Plaster Creek Stewards’ Green Team, a high school volunteer program, helps maintain the landscape, tours the building, and learns about green building strategies. The company also conducts biennial prescribed burns to reduce invasive vegetation and stimulate native plant growth.

The project reflects Catalyst Partners’ broader philosophy of high-performance restorative design. The company specializes in LEED, WELL, Living Building Challenge, Enterprise Green Communities, and BREEAM certification, reviewing 25% of LEED projects globally. By integrating native vegetation and stormwater management at its own site, Catalyst Partners demonstrates practical applications of sustainability while reducing maintenance costs and supporting urban biodiversity.