Tree-
Conscious Construction by Design

In 2014, Bartlett Tree Experts and the Bartlett Inventory Solutions team collaborated with the Middlesex School in Concord, MA to perform a tree inventory, as well as a vegetation and invasive species assessment

along the school's main entrance. The inventory was conducted to provide vital information about large and mature trees in close proximity to a designated construction project site. In doing so, we demonstrated the ways in which trees should be a critical aspect of the design and pre-construction phases of a construction project.

While there were many large, mature and important specimens that could have been impacted by construction, area trees were not the only concern for this project. Another major goal for Middlesex School was to improve the overall aesthetics of key areas along the main drive. To meet that goal, Bartlett not only provided a tree inventory, but also individual tree recommendations, mapping, and vegetation and invasive species assessments.

Information collected during the tree inventory included:

• Tree Species
• Tree Diameter and Size
• Pruning Recommendations
• Soil Management Recommendations

The data was then collated into a management plan and recommendations provided a strategy to improve tree condition through pruning, pest management, soil care, and fertilization. An estimated value was also calculated for each tree inventoried, which came to a cumulative amount of over $2 million.

A large section of the inventory included natural areas along a pond and contained many types of vegetation, including invasive species. While these areas were outside of the construction area, they made up a large portion of the view when coming up the main drive.

Information collected during the vegetation and invasive species assessment included:

• Invasive Tree and Plant Species to Massachusetts
• Tree Diameter and Size
• Condition
• Presence of Vines

Our recommendations provided strategies to help Middlesex School identify and properly remove invasive species; and manage the understory vegetation, while causing as little harm to the ecosystem around and in the pond as possible. Middlesex School proved that tree inventories are a tremendous resource to architects and contractors, especially when construction takes place close to established trees. When combined with assessing other vegetation and species types, the entire local environment can be considered in the construction process, leading to better designs and more aesthetically pleasing results.