|
Summer 2004
Green Roofs on the Rise
Roofs are going green all over the Chicago region — on public buildings, businesses, even private residences
Peggy Notebaert Nature
Museum — Chicago, Illinois
In addition to the demonstration
roof with a wetland, low-maintenance plantings, and a tree (see portfolio, pdf), the museum
has planted its large, angled main roofs with varied sedums. Water not absorbed
by the plants trickles down a wall of local limestone planted with native
ravine-dwelling plants. What's more, equipment monitors rooftop conditions, and
visitors can watch what's going on via four "roof cams."
| |
 |
|
|
| |
Coffee Creek. Photo by Steve Barker. |
|
|
Coffee Creek Center — Chesterton, Indiana
The public restrooms at Coffee Creek Center resemble a stone hut with a sod roof (photo above). Yet the greenery is a modern design, installed on a pitched surface to hold sedums, sand coreopsis, even hens and chicks.
Target Corporation — Chicago, Illinois
The vast flat-roof acreage and ubiquitous nature of the "big-box stores" make them perfect — and critical — candidates for green roofs. In summer 2003, Target installed a sedum roof on a store in Chicago. See portfolio (pdf).
Condominiums — Evanston, Illinois
Several new condo high-rises use a portion of each
resident's assessment to maintain a rooftop common area full of trees, flowers,
and grass — often adjoining an exercise room, party room, or swimming pool.
Dick Young Residence — Oswego, Illinois
Shortly after World War II, botanist and builder Dick Young
built a stone home and gave it a green roof. He mixed trees and broad-leafed
plants with Kentucky bluegrass — 50 plant species in all. Even back then, he
knew the green roof would cool his family's home.
Other Noteworthy Roofs
|
