One of the largest greenroofs in North America is located in Ottawa, Canada. Situated on the LeBreton Flats, the Canadian War Museum living roof covers 10,684 square metres. The website states, “Dedicated to the education, preservation and remembrance of Canada’s military history, the Canadian War Museum also demonstrates a commitment to environmental sustainability. The Museum’s architectural theme, as reflected in its design, is regeneration. Located on LeBreton Flats, the Museum sits on land that once held houses, rail yards, flour mills, sawmills and other industries that were destroyed by a fire in 1900. Before the Museum’s construction could even begin, a remediation program “regenerated” the land by removing a large volume of contaminated soil. In 2003, the National Capital Commission started the LeBreton Flats remediation program, which involved digging down to bedrock and then treating and disposing of contaminated sections. The clean rock and rubble was crushed and reused for roadwork and other construction. By the end of the following year, construction of the Canadian War Museum began on the remediated site.The description continues: “Perhaps the Museum’s most interesting environmental feature is its green roof – at 10,684 square metres, one of the largest of its kind in North America. Covered in the same tall-grass species that grow along the Ottawa River, the roof is actually a self-sustaining ecosystem that requires minimal maintenance. The plants help “clean” the air of smog and air pollution. The roof includes a 300 millimetre mix of soil and retention board that can hold up to 720,000 litres of storm water. The combined green roof features help provide additional insulation to reduce energy loss while moderating any urban heat island effect as the plants help cool and clean the air above the building.”

Referring to the greenroof, Guy Larocque of the Facility Management and Security Services, Canadian Museum of Civilization Corp. is quoted in an Ottawa Citizen article, “It’s holding well. It doesn’t leak. And in three seasons the grass is at its full height.” In addition to the large vegetated roof, energy-efficient construction and the use of recycled materials reflect the Museum?s architectural theme. River water is used in the cooling systems and recycled fly ash is used in the concrete (the building?s main construction material, noted for its high energy efficiency). The Canadian War Museum received the Award for Excellence in Urban Sustainability at the GLOBE 2006 Awards Gala in Vancouver.