When the new Art Museum of Western Virginia opens to the public, some of the water used to operate the new facility and grounds will come from captured rainwater. Rainwater Management Solutions of Salem is engineering the rainwater harvesting system, just one aspect of the new museum’s many sustainable design elements.

The architectural firm designing the new museum, Randall Stout Architects, Inc, of Los Angeles selected Rainwater Management Solutions (RMS) to be a member of the project team designing the new 75,000 square foot structure that is scheduled to open in the fall of 2007. The overall design of the new museum features a number of sustainable components such as the use of daylighting, passive solar energy systems, thermal conservation and rainwater harvesting.

The rainwater harvesting system will collect runoff from the roof of the new museum and store the water for non potable uses including flushing and irrigation. The reuse of the harvested rainwater will reduce the cost of water and sewer for the museum and reduce the quantity of stormwater flowing into the city’s storm drains.

Earlier this year, Rain Water System, Inc. of Virginia and Rattenbury Engineering, LLC, of Massachusetts merged to form Rainwater Management Solutions (RMS). John Rattenbury, a principal of RMS, was the first United States engineer to provide Siphonic Roof Drainage systems engineering design services. Among his notable achievements are the designs of Siphonic Roof Drainage Systems for the Boston Convention Center and for numerous IKEA stores.

Rainwater Management Solutions brings a common sense, cost effective and sustainable approach to addressing the escalating issue of water conservation and stormwater runoff through its rain water harvesting and storm water management services and solutions The RMS expertise encompasses industries directly impacted by water management issues, including commercial, residential, institutional and agricultural.