The Flowing Wells rest area at the intersection of Montana Highway 200 and Highway 24 was opened to the public in January 2015. Jackson Contracting Group and HGFA Architects lead the design-build team, with Peaks to Plains Design as their project landscape architect. Considerations for the landscape included a limited water supply for both potable and irrigation along with challenging growing and maintenance conditions for the plant materials. Peaks to Plains Design contributed to the site layout with considerations for crime prevention, aesthetics, microclimate and pedestrian circulation. Travelers have rated this facility as “excellent” and indicated that they feel safe and secure using the new facility, even with its remote location.

The irrigated area of the Miles City VA Hospital campus is approximately 375,000 square feet (8.6 acres) and was served by a number of irrigation controllers and connections to city water supply. In an effort to reduce potable water consumption, the project included consolidating all various zones into a singular irrigation system that is supplied from groundwater wells. The team evaluated the reuse of an existing water tower for water storage, and determined that it is not feasible for this use. Peaks to Plains Design prepared Drawings outlining a consolidated main that connects to each existing irrigation zone and added soil moisture sensors throughout the campus. One central controller, programmable with a PC interface, controls the water distribution on the campus, only watering during the designated time periods and adjusting the water application rate based upon soil moisture. The estimated reduction in potable water use is over 8 million gallons or a 68 percent reduction in potable water use. The estimated cost savings is over $17,000 per year.

The Grace Montessori Academy is a faith-based, non-profit preschool through 6th grade. Peaks to Plains Design provided the landscape and irrigation design for the campus. Plant material was considered for low maintenance and safety precautions. The irrigation system features an efficiently-designed distribution system, allowing for the addition of multiple phases of construction. The outdoor play and classroom space was of special importance to the school. Utilizing the latest technology in 3D design, Peaks to Plains Design developed schematic drawings that allowed the client to utilize in their fundraising efforts. As a result, the facility’s expansion became feasible sooner than anticipated.

The Cody Interagency Dispatch Center is a centralized location serving 12 agencies with incident information, predictive services, dispatch and logistics and administrative needs. When Bairco Construction was tasked with completing the site work on the new facility, they partnered with Peaks to Plains Design to complete the building with low-maintenance and drought tolerant landscaping.