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The Talbot County Senior Center at Brookletts is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and is located at 400 Brookletts Avenue, Easton, Maryland, 21601. See an informative brochure here. Contact Atelier 11, Ltd. for additional information at: 410-822-3680 or ldatelier11@goeaston.net. Read about the following companies in The Greenroof Directory: rooflite and Emory Knoll Farms/Green Roof Plants

The new 2-story Talbot County Senior Center is an 11,100+ sf structure located on the site of the old senior center, which was the renovated former Salt Seafood Company, located in Easton MD. A greenroof for the flat portions of the center’s roof was pursued by the Architect, Lauren B. Dianich, for several reasons. The majority of the site was taken up by the building, not allowing any garden area for the seniors’ passive visual enjoyment. The greenroof would help to offset the site’s stormwater requirements by reducing stormwater runoff. Use of the greenroof would also improve air and water quality in an urban setting on an otherwise “tight” site. It is interesting to note that the seniors involved in the project championed the inclusion of the roof into the project design.

LEED Certification was cost-prohibitive for this project, however the architect incorporated skylights and large windows for maximum daylighting of the building’s interior. Cisterns are positioned around the building to capture rainwater runoff, with the water used to irrigate the plantings. A stormwater management pond in the back of the building, along side of the parking area is planted and provides not only stormwater management, but incorporates the State’s “Bayscapes” initiatives, providing a relaxing respite with landscaping and benches.

An HVAC life cycle analysis was performed for four alternate types of systems. Based on this analysis high efficiency, variable-speed, modulating gas-fired condensing furnaces with matching high-efficiency air-cooled condensing units were utilized. A dedicated outside air system delivers fresh air directly to the spaces through 100% outside air units with energy recovery wheels. A computer-based direct digital control system with central workstation was also provided. Plumbing systems consist of tankless, on-demand, high-efficiency-type water heaters, low water consumption-type toilets and waterless urinals. Electrical design included high-efficiency fluorescent interior lighting, and a mix of fluorescent and metal halide exterior security and parking lot lighting. Automatic lighting control was provided where practical, such as in the lavatories. Convenience power was provided for the various activities and functions throughout the facility. A full fire alarm system was provided.

Funding for the Center’s construction included $1,600,000 from the County; $750,000 from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development and $600,000 from a Maryland Department of Aging grant. Donations have also come from philanthropic individuals, foundations and organizations. The Senior Center held a Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting on July 14, 2009. The 2-story building incorporates a metal and shingle gable roof and the (flat) intensive/extensive greenroof, accessed from the second floor. The roof was built in-place, and includes a leak-detection system. The plant materials were pre-grown and brought to the site for installation. Underlayment included foam protection board; 4 oz. filter fabric; 15 oz. protection fabric and 40 mil HDPE root Barrier. This was topped with rooflite extensive mc, a growing medium for extensive green roofs in multi-course construction, which is a mixture of HydRocks with other mineral and organic components, and rooflite drain, a granular drainage for extensive, semi-intensive and intensive greenroofs in multi-course construction; a mixture of HydRocks with other mineral components.

The greenroof plant list included:
Allium schoenoprasum
Delospermanubigenum “Basutoland”
Sedum acre Aureum
Sedum album
Sedum album Murale
Sedum floriferum “Weihenstephaner Gold”
Sedum kamtschaticum
Sedum reflexum
Sedum sexangulare
Sedum spurium “Fuldaglut”
Sedum spurium “John Creech”
Sedum spurium Roseum
Sedum spurium “White Form”
Talinum calycinum

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