City of Minneapolis Tree Cell Installation – Marq2 Project

Marquette Ave S between 1^st St S and 12^th St S, and 2^nd Ave S between 1^st St S and 12^th St S

This downtown street project included installation of tree cells to create conditions that will promote healthy, mature trees, and improve stormwater management in the core of the downtown district.

Large trees in urban areas can reduce the urban heat island effect, air pollution, stormwater pollution and flooding, while replenishing oxygen, providing shade, and connecting residents and visitors to the natural environment.

This project installed 173 trees along the new bus corridor using a Silva cells. The Silva cells are a modular system that supports the sidewalk. The system creates a void space that holds 10 cubic feet of soil per unit (10,800 units were installed), allows for existing or future utility pipes, protects tree roots from compaction, and provides room for stormwater. The system can temporarily hold large volumes of stormwater that will either be used by the trees (evapotranspiration) or will soak into the ground (infiltration).

This type of system can be used under pavement in other locations, such as parking lots and plazas, to reduce stormwater runoff and promote large healthy trees.

Installing cell frames, leaving a space for tree planting. Existing and future utility pipes can be threaded through the frames	Filling cells and frames with good quality soil for tree roots
Installing top deck on tree cell frames	After tree are installed. Pervious pavement allows oxygen and rainwater to reach tree roots