Thursday, June 28, 2007

ASLA Green Roof Project in DC

On Monday GMG visited the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Green Roof Project. Here (l-r) are Amy Lamb, Adrian Higgins, Suzi McCoy and Ed Snodgrass in front of the ASLA Green Roof.

ASLA was founded in 1899 and in 2004 when faced with the need to replace the existing roof they decided to install a green roof. The goals of ASLA's green roof are to maximize and serve as a demonstration project for the environmental benefits of green roofs, and to showcase what landscape architects contribute to this project type.

The green roof carries an additional load of about 40 pounds per square foot and includes two elevated "waves" formed from rigid insulation and covered with a green roof system. The waves create a pleasant foliage-enclosed space and block the view of the rooftop HVAC systems.

The benefits of green roofs are many: controlling stormwater runoff, improving water quality, reducing the urban heat island effect, improving air quality and reductions in building operating costs, longer roof life. It also provides a much prettier view for the surrounding office buildings.




For more information or to view the green roof webcam, please visit the ASLA website at www.asla.org.

1 comment:

Frank Hudson said...

Adding another dimension of importance, this collaboration with landscape architects shows how much they contribute to innovative projects like these. ASLA’s dedication to sustainability and environmental consciousness is impressive and should be emulated by others.

In this respect the lightweight motorcycle trailer reminds us that efficiency and pragmatism are crucial in different undertakings. While the ASLA Green Roof Project seeks to optimize environmental gains, using lightweight motorcycle trailers takes on a transportational perspective.