Greenroofs.com Project of the Week: 8/22/11
Duke University
Ocean Conservation Center (OCC)
Beaufort, NC, USA
2,400 sf. Greenroof

Year: 2010
Owner: Duke University
Location: Beaufort, NC, NY, USA
Building Type: Educational
Type: Living Wall
System: Single Source Provider, Xero Flor Modified
Size: 2,400 sq.ft.
Slope: 2%
Access: Accessible, By Appointment

Project Description & Details

Located at the Duke University Marine Laboratory in Beaufort, North Carolina, the 5,600 sf Marguerite Kent Repass Ocean Conservation Center (OCC) is a stellar example of merging the built structure with the site. Built in 2006, it uses geothermal pumps for heating and cooling, solar panels for hot water, and photovoltaic rooftop panels to convert sunlight into electricity. Local building materials, such as yellow southern pine and Atlantic white cedar and recycled wood, are used throughout the structure. Designed by the office of Frank Harmon Architect PA, the OCC was awarded Gold LEED certification.

Installed by Living Roofs, Inc. in 2010 over the low-slope portion of the previous Energy Star® roof, the 2,400 sf greenroof utilizes a pre-vegetated extensive system with specialized components to secure it from high coastal wind exposure. The Xero Flor system was selected due to the structural capacity of the building, availability of regionally sourced material, and the challenges associated with a windy coastal climate as it is certified to resist high wind loads and is also a FM Global accepted assembly for this building and location. Living Roofs, Inc. worked with Xero Flor America and Frank Harmon Architect PA to design the greenroof system and the irrigation which is supplied by a rainwater catchment system.

Designers/Manufacturers of Record

Architect: Frank Harmon Architect, PA
Greenroof Consultant: Living Roofs, Inc.
Greenroof System: Xero Flor XF301 Vegetated Mat Assembly with Enhanced Wind-Uplift Security Modification, Xero Flor America
Waterproofing Material: Sika Sarnafil
Construction: Curtis Construction

Additional Info

The OCC Marine Lab at the Duke University campus includes historic classrooms ideally suited for the study of marine organisms and the new state-of-the-art teaching facility: the very green Marguerite Kent Repass Ocean Conservation Center.

The center houses a teaching laboratory, a 48-seat lecture hall equipped with advanced teleconferencing and videoconferencing facilities to connect to other classrooms and research labs worldwide, and a large, glass-enclosed commons area containing art and sculpture, with views of the Rachel Carson Research Reserve, Beaufort Inlet and Shackleford Banks.

Yet even before the greenroof was installed, in 2009 the OCC Marine Lab was awarded Gold LEED status from the USGBC, partially because of the siting considerations of the sensitive maritime location.

According to the website, the OCC has the following major environmental features:

1. Site Design – The entire site is designed to take advantage of prevailing winds and sunlight.  Native plants and a constructed sand dune system are in place, mimicking the natural landscapes on the adjacent barrier islands.
2. Energy Supply – The OCC uses photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight for approximately 20% of the energy needs of the building, and passive solar for heating the water used in the building.
3. Heating and Cooling – The OCC uses a geothermal circulation system, taking advantage of the constant temperature of the groundwater below the building, for heating and cooling, supplemented by a conventional heat pump system.  All air systems re-circulate air for maximum efficiency.
4. Innovative Materials – The exterior of the laboratory portion of the OCC and the interior ceilings are a material called Windscreen, a concrete-based material that is 90% heat and light reflective and is mounted with a “breathable” interface with the supporting wall structure.  Walkways to the building are permeable concrete, allowing rain to go directly into the ground beneath the walkways.
5. Local Materials – The wood used in the building is either recycled from other buildings, or produced within 500 miles of the building site in Beaufort.
6. Non-toxic Paints and Solvents – All paints and solvents used in the OCC are “low volatile organic content (VOC)”.
7. Natural Light and Ventilation – The OCC is design for maximum use of natural sunlight and ventilation.

Situated at the point of Pivers Island on the Beaufort campus, here you can get a complete look at the site, surrounded by water – the Atlantic Ocean is just one mile away:

The OCC greenroof received its first true wind withstanding test last season when Hurricane Earl skirted the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  The roof received persistent high winds with gusts up to 90 mph, and according to designer/installer Emilio Ancaya, visiting the roof after the storm revealed no signs of growing loss, vegetation damage, or overall changes to the system.

“Hurricane Earl was just the first test for this green roof. We will be keeping a close eye during future storms and will definitely keep the green roof community updated as we learn more from this project.” ~ Emilio Ancaya, 2010

Of course, after today’s landfall of category 2 Hurricane Irene, seen below from NOAA, any wind effects or other damage and remain to be seen:

In preparation, the Marine Lab closed for business at noon on Friday, August 26, to allow time to secure the facilities.  And Student Arrival/Orientation has been delayed until Monday, after the storm has passed by and the ‘all clear’ notice has been sent.

Completed in April 2010, the Duke University Ocean Conservation Center greenroof is visible from ground level and from an adjacent 4-story faculty office and laboratory building – we hope students, faculty and the living roof have weathered this latest hurricane, and we’ll keep you posted!

Did we miss something? We’d love to hear from you! Click here to see more information about this project in The International Greenroof & Greenwall Projects Database. See how you can submit yours here.

Love the Earth, Plant a Roof!

~ Linda V.

At the beginning of June I had the opportunity to tour the beautiful home at 901 Moreland Avenue, or Eden House, as it’s also known, here in Atlanta.

The invitation-only “Friends Fusion” Open House was attended by over 100 people eager to see the environmentally friendly home.  The clean lines, airy design, and careful selection of materials and textures gives this contemporary home a luxurious feel without being fussy.  And while it has many green features, the most striking is the living roof!

Designed by David Butler, LEED AP, of David Butler & Associates, Inc. and developed by Eastworks LLC, the Gold LEED for Homes certified, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath is just one year old.  In addition to its LEED status, 901 Moreland Avenue has a number of other green credentials such as the Earthcraft® certification and HERS (Home Energy Rating System) – a program of the EPA’s Energy Star for Homes which includes being Energy Star® Indoor Air Quality Package Certified and having Energy Star® and Watersense Appliances®.  What it all boils down to is the home was built responsibly, to save energy and water and promote superior indoor air quality.

The corner site allows for great visibility for many of the exterior sustainable features:  The 1,500 extensive greenroof wraps almost completely around the four sides and draws a lot of looks from passersby.  The eight rain barrels are used as a gravity rain water harvesting and irrigation system, and two are located on the second story roof for direct irrigation of the greenroof. 

An interesting feature is that two of the rain barrels are connected by rain chains instead of the usual downspouts, which creates a lively interplay of the water as it descends.

Passive cooling is accomplished through a solar thermal canopy, which is also visible from the main street.  A convenient ramp way provides accessibility and in fact the entire first floor is wheelchair accessible.  The interior is urban chic smart, yet very cozy in a uber-hip way and Environmentally Preferable Products (EPP) were specified throughout.

For example, the bamboo flooring is stunning, they only used no or low VOC paint, and the well-designed small kitchen has reclaimed concrete countertops and a snazzy recycled glass mosaic backsplash.

And David designed the house to really take advantage of natural light and ventilation – there are several skylights and a wide breezeway connects to the separate third bedroom (or other flexible space), bathroom and garage.
 

The two bedrooms on the upper floor benefit from the cross ventilation positioning of the windows, and you can see how the living roof is visible from many angles upstairs.  The windows frame it beautifully ~ how wonderful to wake up to such greenery at eye level, but on the second floor!

The festive Open House event was well put together and although the main purpose was to showcase its many features (and offer it for sale), the organizers also celebrated the project’s recent LEED Gold certification by raising over $500 for Prevent Child Abuse Georgia with a raffle.  Some of the big prizes included a solar thermal panel and frame and a water conserving Kohler toilet.

The film by Landon Donoho, “Sky Gardens Atlanta,” (I was a producer) was premiered and guests got to see David Butler being interviewed here last October by Landon when the green-minded architect shared his experiences building this gorgeous, modern, single family dwelling.

The event was actually sponsored by many of the companies providing services and products, and they all set up shop in the bright, walkout basement.  This team of specialists reported a brisk evening sharing green building techniques and product information with the inquisitive guests.

Greenroof-related sponsors included JDR Enterprises, Inc., who supplied J-DRain drainage products; ERTH Products, who supplied the growing media; and T+E Design, Inc., who provided landscape architecture services. As usual, it was great to see Janet Faust, LEED AP, GRP of JDR and it was very nice to meet Thomas Nichols, RLA, of both ERTH Products and T+E Design, Inc.  Others present were Gutter Water, LLC, rain water recovery system; CORT, Peachtree Home Staging; Woodman Insulation; Hardwoods Incorporated; PlumbWorksInc.; and Muffley & Associates, real estate solutions.

It’s wonderful to see architects and developers are taking (calculated) risks by taking on green construction, and I highly commend David Butler and Eastworks LLC for their innovation, commitment, and leadership with Eden House’s lovely architecture and healthy living environment!  Hopefully we’ll see more sustainable development projects from this company soon.  For more info, please contact Nicholas Brown of Muffley & Associates at: 404.848.0996 or David Butler at: 404.589.0800.

Read more about the project in The Greenroof & Greenwall Projects Database here, and if you’re in the market for a sleek 1,986 sf home in a bustling Atlanta location, want dramatically lower utility bills, less maintenance, better use of the sun, a healthier living environment and fewer adverse impacts on the environment, this could be your new home!

Happy greening,

~ Linda V.