Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2010 - (Page 21)

10 WEST JACKSON, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Image courtesy of Lance Davis, GSA T he United States General Services Administration (GSA) Public Buildings Service (PBS) is the largest civilian landlord in the U.S. Government with over one million federal employees housed in space in over 2000 American communities. Our federal inventory includes over 1,500 owned buildings and 7,000 leased buildings comprising 408 million-squarefeet and, with this much square footage, many roofing opportunities arise. PBS’s mission is: “To provide superior workplaces for federal customer agencies at good economies to the American taxpayer.” GSA accepts that decisions about roofing should not be based on choosing the lowest cost option alone, and we have a grand, green roof inventory from which to learn. (It should be noted that GSA defines a green [or “planted”] roof as waterproofing on structure, with planting medium and plants installed on top. This definition excludes tunnels dug from below, but includes plazas, underground parking garages and traditional rooftops.) GSA’s roof inventory has moved from early demonstration projects to integrated designs that help set a bold architectural impression. As part of that integrated design, green roofs are recognized as good economy and part of a superior workplace and, therefore, are on the roofs of a variety of new and renovated federal buildings throughout the United States. In fact, GSA’s green roof inventory includes 35 green roofs on office buildings, courthouses, land port of entries and parking garages. While the majority of this inventory exists on the East Coast, green roofs are also being installed in the South and midwestern United States. All together, we now have over one million square-feet of green roofs, providing tenants with a world-class workplace while offering U.S. taxpayers the value they deserve. LIVING ARCHITECTURE MONITOR WINTER 2010 21

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2010

Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2010
Contents
Laying Roots for Green Jobs
Outstanding Student Design
Passing of a Legend
New Federal Stormwater Guidelines From EPA
Partnering Science with Service
On the Roof with...Eden Brukman, Reg. Arch., LEED(R) AP
The Leaf Effect
Who Owns the Green Roof?
Planting the Federal Inventory
Curb Appeal
Maintenance Matters
Professional Development Update
Professional Calendar
Congratulations New GRPS
Welcome New Corporate Members
Green Roof Energy Calculator
Doing No Harm

Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2010