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Re: Roof Gardens/Green Roofs

If you took the "long" tour on Tuesday you had the opportunity to tour at least one additional site:  The Chicago Center for Green Technology.  This is a building that was constructed under the "Green Homes for Chicago" program (and a whole host of other national/state/local programs as well!)  The green roof that was used in this construction was typical of the type:  low water need, high water retention and no irrigation.  It was flat.
 
The mayor's roof was only on half of the city hall building.  The county side of the roof was not done.  Since it is very early in the roof's history they haven't published any of the details.  However, apocryphal observation has the county-side black roof averaging 165 degrees and the city-side, green roof averaging about 92 degrees!  Amazing, isn't it?
 
However, here are the major differences: 
    1.  The city roof has been mounded up to create hillocks and thus increase the surface area.
    2.  It is irrigated (I thought that was a real compromise.)
    3.  This year they salted with a sprinkling of annual seeds and actually planted some container annuals:  Lantana was one of the obvious ones.
    4.  They planted two trees and a large quantity of prairie grasses that our guide admitted required more water than the traditional "green" roof would allow for plants.
    5.  Because of the large amount of paving and other hardscape surfaces and the apparent absence of any collection resevoirs, I don't know and didn't ask if they have substantially reduced the amount of runoff that the building produces.  Maybe those figures haven't been studied yet anyway.
 
And in response to Jeff's observation:  I have always gone on the Tuesday tours--wherever they are going.  I've always signed on for the longest tour of the day.  So far, I have not been disappointed.  They always rank among the most thrilling and surprising of the symposium.  In fact, last year's to Snohomish I would rank as one of my all-time favorite day-long experiences.  If you go to the Symposium, never--ever miss the Tuesday tours.  As Jeff said, they're usually the committee member's favorite sites.
 
Lastly, good to see you all.  Thanks to Doreen again for a great get-together in the Cave Bar....

Kirk R. Brown
Joanne Kostecky Garden Design, Inc
4905 Hamilton Boulevard
Allentown, PA  18106
610-530-8752
 
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2003 2:23 PM
Subject: Re: [GWL] Roof Gardens/Green Roofs

The term that is used for these designs is actually Green Roofs and Chicago has jumped full force.  Do a search for "Green Roofs" and you will find all the info you need as well as an organization "Green Roofs for Healthy Cities."    Chicago just hosted a conference this spring.  It's a FABULOUS idea from an environmental point of view.
Lynn


At 12:38 PM 8/21/2003, KTCopsey@aol.com wrote:
In a message dated 8/21/03 11:39:44 AM US Eastern Standard Time, hortventures@cox.net writes:
This sounds like a very interesting development and I would like to hear
more about how these gardens are constructed.  Anyone have photos of
such activities?


There was an article in the Chicagoland magazine about that which I think is online.  It was the latest issue which was in the goody bag at the meeting - if you have it. I suspect that the mayors office would would also put you in touch with the relevant people.  My biggest concern would be about the weight issue. 
BTW  I still have two bags of 'stuff' to sort thru - there was so much!
Katy

Living just one cornfield away from civilization
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