Greenroofs.com Projects - Vancouver Public Library (Library Square Building)

Vancouver Public Library (Library Square Building)

Project Name: Vancouver Public Library (Library Square Building)
Year: 1995
Owner: The City of Vancouver
Location: Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Building Type: Library
Type: Semi-Intensive
System: Single Source Provider
Size: 28000 sq.ft.
Slope: 1.5%
Access: Inaccessible, Private
Submitted by: Linda S. Velazquez

Designers/Manufacturers of Record:
Landscape Architect: Cornelia Oberlander, FASLA, Cornelia Hahn Oberlander Landscape Architects
Architect: Moshe Safdie, Moshe Safdie and Associates
Greenroof System: American Hydrotech
Architects: Downs Archambault and Partners

Photo Source: Goethe-Institut Kanada; Photo Credit: Copyright Edda Gerdes, 2005

The 21-story Library Square Building office tower houses the eight-story Vancouver Public Library and a retail/daycare complex. Noted landscape architect Cornelia Oberlander, ASLA, designed the semi-intensive greenroof on top of the Library Square Building in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. She worked with architect Moshe Safdie, and this application is a prime example of some of the purely aesthetic benefits provided by the welcome visual relief for the many high-rise office views. American Hydrotech supplied the waterproofing and greenroof system.

Blue and green fescues and kinnikinnick, a native ground cover, are planted to represent the local Fraser River flowing through the mountains as it meanders through the Greater Vancouver Regional District. Over 16,000 grass plugs and 26,000 groundcovers were individually planted in sweeping curves within 14" of growing media. Although this greenroof is installed with a low-intensity irrigation system, it does not require fertilization or cutting. The grasses are raked at the end of the winter.

In 2004, a one-year stormwater runoff monitoring program was completed by Chris Johnston, Kathryn McCreary, and Cheryl Nelms, showing a "48% reduction in runoff volume. The green roof also reduced peak flows during summer storm events." See PDF link below.

Additional thumbnail photos:

Download the 2004 study (PDF) entitled "Vancouver Public Library Green Roof Monitoring Project" by Chris Johnston, Kathryn McCreary, and Cheryl Nelms here , and see a project profile with additional photos from Goethe-Institut Photographie and Landscape Architecture here. Read all about plans to make the secluded greenroof open and accessible to the public in "A field waves on the Vancouver skyline" from the National Post, by Brian Hutchinson of July 24, 2006. Click here for additional information on this mixed-use City of Vancouver Public Library building from McGill University's Canadian Architecture Collection.

Learn about American Hydrotech in The Greenroof Directory here. The Vancouver Public Library was featured in the Greenroofs.com 2008 Greenroofs of the World™ Calendar.

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