| Share your greenroof project with us! We can all learn from each other and it's encouraging to see what school is doing what to promote greenroof architecture. Our readers want to see what you're researching or you've done, from the initial design process through construction to project completion. Tell us about struggles and lessons learned - and maybe what you would do differently next time. Projects are listed by date. Submit a Student Greenroof Project by using the form below, or contact the Student Editor.
september 2006
massart The current MassArt green roof pilot project, initiated through a grant for the class Sustainable Architecture taught in spring, 2006, is a course that this past year included a project for a green roof on campus. The students designed and constructed a green roof as part of the coursework. It is proposed as a permanent structure on campus, and was located on an existing flat roof accessible from a large conference area, the Trustees Room, on the 11 th floor of what is called the Tower Building . The project proposed a 1000 square foot planted garden and a small walkway of approximately 250 square feet accessed from both the Trustees Room and the President's Gallery. The garden portion (750 square feet) was constructed, and the steel is in place for the proposed walkway. Though materials are on site for the walkway (and they were all donated), it will be built in the spring or summer of 2007 when the weather is warm again. (This floor also houses the College President's administrative offices). Alumni and designer Karin Sharav-Zalkind says, "Our proposal was accepted by the state to be a pilot, and the accompanied details and results of our data to date are included as addenda to this document. Our goal is to demonstrate water retention - reduction of stormwater into the city system; and a reduction in the temperature ranges at the roof that will translate into savings both in winter (through increased insulation value) and summer (through decreased temperatures at the roof). We also believe that the planted roof, viewed from the Trustees Room and Gallery, and accessible from both of these locations, will add to the quality of this otherwise largely desolate black rubber roofscape over which these areas now view. The goal is also to demonstrate a range of plant species native to the landscape that would be replicated by the conditions of an 11 th story roof garden facing southwest. This includes extreme heat, cold, lack of wind protection and high wind speeds." Download Presentation Banner #1 "Breath of Fresh Air" in PDF here, and #2 "MassArt Green Roof Goals" here. Read the complete Project Profile here in The Greenroofs Project Database, where you can see photos.
university of greenwich, hadlow college student survey UK Building Professional Opinion Consultation: Isnarti Jamari is a final year student here trying to determine professionals' views on the "Effectiveness or adequacy of current policies to promote Skyrise Greenery in UK" for the final year dissertation.
He says, "Whether you are local talents or foreign experts, I am grateful for a few minutes of your time to fill up the survey form." If you are involved with green roof projects in UK, please participate in this online survey here.
june 2006
university of east london and centre for alternative technology Green Roof Maintenance Questionnaire: Naomi Durkan is pursuing a M.SC Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies here and needs the knowledge, experiences and opini-ons from greenroof building/ facilities managers. She says, "The questionnaire takes a maximum of 10 minutes to complete and I need a wide variety of responses, so no matter what type of roof you manage, your time would be greatly appreciated." The Survey is posted on livingroofs.org in English here, and in German here.
january 2006
student thesis
Optimum Green Roof for Brisbane
By Josh Kidd Publisher's Note: Josh Kidd graduated from the University of Queensland in December 2005, with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering, majoring in structural and hydraulics. With an increasing interest in sustainable building design and local environmental issues, Josh decided to do his 4th year thesis on Green Roofs and their ability to reduce storm water runoff and its impacts. Here then is his thesis, including an Extensive Green Roof Vegetation List for Australia. ABSTRACT
Managing stormwater runoff is an increasing problem for cities around the world, and Brisbane is no exception. With limited treatment of urban and residential runoff, pollution is free to flow directly into natural waterways with irreversible impacts. One method of reducing stormwater runoff is ‘Green Roofs’. Initially designed to provide insulation in cold climates such as Iceland and Scandinavia, Green Roofs have recently been developed to harness their water retention capabilities to reduce runoff in urban areas. By using a layer of vegetation instead of traditional impervious roofing systems, a large amount of rainfall can be retained and returned to the atmosphere via evapotranspiration.
Although not widely recognized in Australia, Green Roofs are slowly becoming an accepted technique for improving stormwater management around the world. The purpose of this report is to evaluate Green Roofs as a technique for relieving stormwater runoff.
Using average pan evaporation rates and crop factors, the water used by different vegetation was estimated. Then an appropriate soil was selected based on plant available water and infiltration rate. Using a simple water flow spreadsheet, the water retention of varying soil depths was simulated for each type of vegetation. After determining optimum depths for sustaining plant life, runoff reductions for each vegetation simulation were calculated.
The water flow simulations demonstrated that runoff reductions of up to 42% could be achieved with only 100mm of soil planted with moderate growth turf. As the soil depth and vegetation water use increased, so did the retention capacity of the Green Roof, however larger soil depths result in larger loads imposed on the structure...  | The monthly rainfall, raindays and pan evaporation rates for Brisbane based on Bureau of Meteorology data are shown here in Figure 12. |
Download his entire Optimum Green Roof for Brisbane thesis here. Currently, Josh Kidd is working as a Graduate Structural Engineer for Bligh Tanner in Brisbane, Australia. In the future Josh hopes to promote Green Roofs in Australia and be involved in the design of innovative sustainable structures in Australia and around the world. Contact Josh Kidd at: josh.kidd at hotmail.com
august 2004
student project update  | New Greenroof Test Plot of GREEN ROOF BLOCKS at UGA; July 2004.
Photo Courtesy Kelly Luckett |
Tim Carter of the University of Georgia has a new green roof project - his second test plot at UGA was installed in early July. Saint Louis Metalworks Company has donated 500 square feet of their GREEN ROOF BLOCKS to the University to conduct research and for a display roof on the campus of the University of Georgia. The new installation is located next to the green roof that Tim installed last October 2003 on the Science Library building. Both green roof projects are easily visible from a large glass lobby used by students, faculty, and the general public. The installation consists of a large demonstration plot consisting of over 100 Green Roof Blocks as well as 15 Green Roof Blocks to be used individually as experimental plots. The Green Roof Blocks are ideal for experimentation as they are small, mobile and allow for flexibility in experimental monitoring design.  |  | Stormwater Monitoring of the Green Roof Blocks at UGA; Photos Courtesy Kelly Luckett |
Green Roof Blocks are a self-contained, modular system that Tim and his colleagues will use to collect data on the retention of storm water, reduction in storm water pollutants, and changes in the roof’s energy budget. The installation was completed with the help of students and staff from UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry, School of Environmental Design, Institute of Ecology, and College of Biology and Agricultural Engineering. The morning was spent filling the Green Roof Blocks with growth media, inserting sedum plants, and carrying the finished blocks to the rooftop. The Green Roof Blocks are populated with five species of sedum plants growing in an engineered growth media of expanded slate and worm castings. The display plot is resting on top of the existing built up roofing system helping to demonstrate how easily Green Roof Blocks can be used to retrofit existing rooftops with a green roof.  |  | Early July easy installation of the Green Roof Blocks; Photos Courtesy Kelly Luckett |
Kelly Luckett, LEED AP, President of Saint Louis Metalworks Company delivered the Green Roof Blocks himself and says, "Tim C. was really great! He and his friends worked like dogs on the hottest day of the year and flat out got it done!" With enthusiasm like this from both sides, I am confident the test project will be very interesting to follow.
The University of Georgia ~ Research Project by Tim Carter, Ph.D. student,
October 2003 Completed in October, 2003, an experimental 500 square foot greenroof atop the Boyd Graduate Studies Research Center is scheduled to last at least three years - long enough to demonstrate to UGA officials its stormwater-handling potential. PhD student Tim Carter is establishing the vegetated roof research site which will be studied for its ability to retain stormwater as part of a larger urban watershed remediation project. He was helped by workers from UGA's Physical Plant and a team of volunteers during installation. Drought tolerant sedums were planted and little maintenance is expected from the extensive greenroof which will be monitored for stormwater issues. According to an article in Online Athens of October 3, 2003, "The green roof idea grew out of an effort to restore Tanyard Branch, a highly degraded stream that runs through the middle of the UGA campus. Students and faculty working on the effort have proposed green roofs as one way to help restore the stream to health. A group called S.E.E.D.S., for Students and Educators for Ecological Design and Sustainability, is working on the restoration, and has been working with UGA's Physical Plant and the school's Office of the University Architect." 
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| Left: Tim Carter, UGA PhD. Student and Greenroofs.com Student Editor with Amble Johnson
on the Boyd Graduate Studies Greenroof, photo by Allen Sullivan, Athens Banner-Herald Staff;
Right: Planting Day from UGA's Institute of Ecology's Office of Public Service and Outreach. |
 |  | Left: Tim Carter guides a bucket of soil along a section of the roof.
Photo by Allen Sullivan/Online Athens Staff;
Right: Tim & Professor Laurie Fowler, Institute of Ecology's Office of Public Service and Outreach. |
See UGA's Institute of Ecology's Office of Public Service and Outreach webpage on the Greenroof Project for more photos. Tim Carter is currently pursuing his Ph.D. at The Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia, focusing on using greenroofs as part of GIS modeling for examining remediation of urban watersheds and is the Greenroofs.com Student Editor. Reach him at: studenteditor@greenroofs.com.
Ohio State University ~ Research Project by Reid R. Coffman, MLA, 2003
"Vegetated Roof Systems in the Urban Context; Function, Feasibility and the Environmental Effect" Reid R. Coffman, MLA, is a Lecturer in the Knowlton School of Architecture and a Graduate Research Assistant in the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the Ohio State University. As a result of his professional work, Reid has received national design awards in the areas of the environment and education. An emphasis in planning, designing and implementing of high altitude riparian systems and T & E species habitats throughout the Rocky Mountains and designing learning gardens has been the focus of his past work. He lectures and teaches on the subject of ecology in the design process and is currently pursuing a post-professional doctoral degree in Urban Ecology at the Ohio State University involving academic research regarding green roofs.
His current research under way regarding vegetated roof systems include the following areas of emphasis:
1. Determining the effect of green roof design on Gross Primary Production and storm water management of intense rain events (30 min.). Plot experimentation involving three design types at two substrate depths. 1) Direct precipitation, 2) direct precipitation with additional run-on, and 3) direct precipitation with recycle.
2. Identifying vertical and horizontal thresholds for species dispersal between green roofs in the urban setting. Theoretical analysis determining thresholds for species dispersal from secondary research using statistical analysis and GIS modeling.
3. Measuring the impact of green roofs on a city's ecological footprint as a measure of sustainability determined by the sustainable yield as compared to other stormwater best management practices. The use of energy analysis will be employed as method of combined comparative analysis.
4. Determining the design type of a vegetated roof system that supports the current regional landscape character for an area of study. Historical and contemporary literature review will provide the regional landscape identity which can be compared to green roof systems for structural, functional, and visual similarities.
5. Determining the potential application and effectiveness of green roof technology in the Cuyahoga River Valley Watershed in Ohio. Mapping and spatial analysis using primary and secondary research.
For questions contact him at The Ohio State University, 256 Howlett Hall 2001 Fyffe Court, Columbus, OH 43212 coffman.88@osu.edu.
Temple University ~ Green Roof Technology Exhibit, Philadelphia Flower Show,
PA, 2002  | S. Edgar David and Lisa Blum coordi-
nated Ambler’s Flower Show exhibit. |
Temple University Ambler Landscape Architecture and Horticulture students won Best of Show for their Green Roof Exhibit in the Academic Educational category at the 2002 Philadelphia Flower Show for their detailed representation of “Green Roof Technology.”
University of Virginia (UVA) ~UVA Solar Decathlon Team, 2002 For over two years more than 100 students from The University of Virginia's School of Architecture and School of Engineering and Applied Science designed and built a self sustaining 750 sf solar powered home for the Department of Energy's First Solar Decathlon. One quarter of the roof is a greenroof, at 10 x 12'. The Solar House Awards included 1st Place, Design and Livability Contest, Solar Decathlon, 2002; 1st Place tied, Energy Balance Contest; 2nd Place, Overall; BP Solar Progressive Award; Special Citation from the American Institute of Architects. Enter the Flash site, and use the dynamic layer toggles to view each layer through a dynamic transparency engine (the greenroof is layer 13). The team is preparing to install the house near the University to serve as a visitor's residence and sustainable design study center for future architecture and engineering students. Contact info: UVA Solar Decathlon Team - solarhome@virginia.edu.
The Clam House ~ Greenroof Design/Build, SC 2001 
The structure above is a design/build project completed in 2001 by students Abelman, Bertilus and Massell who used recycled materials and those found on site. They won the International Design Resource Awards (IDRA) 2001 Honorable Mention Award, and according to their comments from the IDRA site, "The Clam House is a design/build student project constructed in a working farm in South Carolina. We began the design process by first carefully choosing a sire and studying its ecology, and then deciding on a palette of sustainable materials from which to build. The Calm House is situated on a gently sloping hill above a natural pond. It’s broadest curving face is pointed directly to the south to benefit from passive solar heating and direct light. The materials we chose were generated from an on-site analysis of what was available: straw bales from the farm, fine sand, bamboo from local groves, oak and pine thinned from local stands, highly pigmented clays, recovered railroad ties, salvaged glass, and ample amounts of horse manure…." In 2001 Nik Bertulis commented, "We are experimenting with a system where recycled carpet is laid underneath our native sod to act as a stabilizer, drainage mat and moisture collector. So far it's working pretty well."  |  | The Clam House Project, SC, Greenroof Design Build by Abelman, Bertilus and Massell |
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