By Linda S. Velazquez
Greenroofs.com Publisher

Greenroofs.com Project of the Week: 3/28/16

Rutgers University NJ Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health Living Wall
New Brunswick, NJ, USA
1,320 sf. Greenwall

Project of the Week Description & Details

Designed by Ballinger, the New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health (IFNH) underscores the commitment of Rutgers University to new transformational initiatives across the many disciplines impacting food, nutrition, and health. Completed in mid 2015, their new $55 million, 80,000 square foot academic building boasts expansive glass façades and many collaborative spaces. And the largest interior living wall in New Jersey resides here with 46 species and over 5,200 plants covering 1,320 square feet of wall space. Designed and manufactured by EcoWalls, the living wall is adorned with low-light tropical plants and spans the three floors of the building, measuring 40’ high and 33’ long.

The design intent of the IFNH Living Wall was to promote health and wellness by connecting the building’s inhabitants with nature in an unexpected way, creating a space that was soothing and reflective while maintaining their mission and exploiting the holistic benefits of living plants to improve the aesthetic and overall biologic nature of the built environment. The living wall was intended to be an interactive feature of the building, becoming a teaching tool and destination for multiple courses on campus. The IFNH Living Wall was designed as a 100% water efficient landscape, reclaiming, treating, and reusing all excess irrigation water. Each EcoWall module was pre-grown at the EcoWalls greenhouse for about 8 weeks prior to site construction with Parker Plants, the EcoWall Certified Installer & Maintenance Technician, offering Rutgers a turn-key solution with an established and acclimated living wall with a diverse plant pallet. Located in the central corridor of the building, the living wall is a breathtaking backdrop for all who travel the floating stairway between levels.

Year: 2015
Owner: Rutgers University
Location: New Brunswick, NJ, USA
Building Type: Educational
Type: Living Wall, Test/Research
System: Single Source Provider
Size: 1,320 sq.ft.
Grade: 100%
Access: Accessible, Open to Public

Designers/Manufacturers of Record:

Architect: Ballinger
Building Concept Design: Woods Bagott
Construction: Natoli
Greenwall Design: Michael A. Coraggio and Ryan M. Burrows, EcoWalls, LLC
Modular Greenwall System: The EcoWall, Living Wall System, EcoWalls, LLC
EcoWall Certified Installer & Maintenance Technician: Parker Plants
Grower & Installation: EcoWalls, LLC

View the PROJECT PROFILE to see ALL of the Photos and Additional Information about this particular project in The International Greenroof & Greenwall Projects Database.

Project of the Week Video Feature

Watch the Rutgers University NJ Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health Living Wall Project of the Week Video below or see it on our GreenroofsTV channel on YouTube:

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Love the Earth, Plant a Roof (or Wall)!

~ Linda S. Velazquez, ASLA, LEEP AP, GRP
Greenroofs.com