The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), formerly the World Wildlife Fund, is the world’s largest independent conservation organization with more than 5 million supporters worldwide, working in more than 90 countries and supporting around 1,300 conservation and environmental projects around the world. Washington, DC, is the home to the World Wildlife Fund’s headquarters, offering more than 251,707 s.f. of premium workspace. In 2009, the building was renovated and now features a stunning 8-story, sky-lit atrium and is slated for platinum LEED status.

The original design intent of the renovation project called for an aggressive LEED Platinum Renovation – LEED SS 6.1 and SS 6.2 requirements. WWF desired a green roof not only for the benefits it offers to storm water quality and quantity, but also as an amenity to enhance overall habitat. The owner requested that documentation be provided that substantiated the hydrology of the green roofing system. The project’s roofing contractor suggested using American Hydrotech’s Hydrology Tool (HHT) to demonstrate and fully document the storm water abilities of a Garden Roof Assembly.

The HHT aggregated project component performance data, integrated project-specific municipal/LEED guidelines and then overlaid a variety of “real life” retention and detention abilities such as site specific storm events and other unique regional climatic conditions. This was critical as the major overall goal was to reduce the first flush and/or peak flow impact of the water during major storm activity.

In full collaboration, Prospect Waterproofing Co., American Hydrotech, project engineers and LEED consultants all compared, debated and analyzed specific components to ensure maximum positive effects and performance of a potential Garden Roof Assembly, while at the same time limiting premium costs. The project’s end result is a 25,000 sf roof that significantly reduces stress on the city sewer infrastructure and reduces overflows into the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers and Rock Creek, underscoring WWF’s environmental mission.