Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2012 - (Page 11)

from the Seattle Department of Neighbourhoods for $22,000 in December of 2010 upon which a design consultant, The Harrison Design Team, was hired. In December of 2011 the project received a $100,000 award from the Parks & Green Spaces Levy for design and construction for a 1-acre portion of the food forest. The goal of the Beacon Food Forest is to bring the richly diverse community together by fostering a Permaculture Tree Guild approach to urban farming and land stewardship. To learn more about the Beacon Food Forest please visit www. beaconfoodforest.weebly.com or the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods at www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/ppatch/locations/ beaconfoodforest.htm houses, to be constructed over the next several years, are also in the works. THE GATHERING PLACE, DENVER, COLORADO LUfA fARMS, MONTREAL, QUEbEC Lufa Farms is an ambitious commercial agricultural project focused on developing a viable and sustainable model for rooftop farms in cities. The farm is an innovative controlled-environment greenhouse built atop a two-storey commercial space in the Ahuntsic-Cartierville neighbourhood of Montreal. Its 31,000 square feet of rooftop growing space is divided into two growing zones – a warm zone for tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and eggplants and a cool zone for lettuces, herbs, Asian vegetables and other greens. Designed and planned by Mohamed Hage and Kurt Lynn, it is the world’s first commercial rooftop greenhouse. The greenhouse itself is a unique combination of structural, water-saving, energy-management, and plant cropping technologies. A unique system of sensors and valves carefully monitors rainfall and collects water running off the greenhouse to store in large cisterns located in the basement of the building. There, it is filtered and used to dilute the nutrients used to feed the plants. In the winter, the greenhouse is heated via redundant natural gas boilers, and in the summer, cooled using evaporative air coolers. It uses 360 degrees and overhead insulating curtains to conserve heat in the winter and to shade cool-loving plants in the summer. Lufa Farms produces more than 100 tons of vegetables year around, this is enough to feed more than 2000 individuals a year. Vegetables that are not delivered or picked up on the day of harvest are given to local charities. On track to meet its financial projections this year, Lufa Farms will build a second greenhouse in Montreal that will measure a landmark 120,000 square feet, as well as a 44,000-square-foot greenhouse in nearby Laval. Plans for four additional green- It’s probably not the first place you’d think of to have a rooftop garden, but then again, why not? Located near downtown Denver, Colo., The Gathering Place is a daytime, drop-in center for women, their children, and transgender individuals who are experiencing homelessness and poverty. Built in 2007, the nonprofit organization’s 28,000 square foot facility houses a number of programs and services, including a food bank, computer lab, and art studio. With breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains, two brightly colored playground areas for children, varied seating options for adults, and numerous planters filled with vegetables, herbs, and fruit, the rooftop at The Gathering Place is a welcome escape from the hum of daily activity inside the building. Those who receive services are invited to participate in a seasonal gardening program, helping to plant, nurture, and harvest produce from the rooftop garden that is used for meals served onsite or distributed through the organization’s food bank. In 2011, over 90 pounds of produce were harvested from the rooftop garden. “Our rooftop is a great example of what can be achieved through careful planning and creative design,” says Rhonda Morroni, vice president of operations at The Gathering Place. “The result is an inviting oasis that both contributes to our mission and allows us to be good stewards of our resources.” In addition to providing a beautiful retreat and supplementing the nonprofit’s food supply, the rooftop at The Gathering Place has several elements that contribute to the building’s energy efficiency. An American Hydrotech roofing system with elevated drainage pavers helps to reduce solar gain on the roof. Solar panels capture the abundant Colorado sunlight to preheat the building water, reducing energy consumption. A greenscreen® trellising system provides space for climbing vegetation, which in turn creates shade for the rooftop area. FIND OUT MORE www.urbanagsummit.org for information about the Urban Agriculture Summit, being held August 15-18 in Toronto. http://beaconfoodforest.weebly.com http://beaconfoodforest.weebly.com http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/ppatch/locations/beaconfoodforest.htm http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/ppatch/locations/beaconfoodforest.htm http://www.urbanagsummit.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2012

Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2012
Contents
From the Founder
Seen & Heard
Bookshelf
Special Thanks
On the Roof With…
Innovation
Urban Agriculture Summit in Toronto August 15th – 18th
Citiesalive in Chicago Oct 17th – 19th
Policy and Standards
We Asked Experts Their Opinions on Modular or Loose Laid Green Roof Systems, Check Out What They Said
I Guess Size Really Does Matter! — Growing Media Insights
Eleanor Mckinney Taking Austin by the Horns
New Industry Products
Green Roof Falls Flat in New York City
Green Roofing Leader Shows Industry What They’re Made Of! Tremco Incorporated
Plant Profile
New GRP’s
Professional Calendar
New Corporate Members
GRHC Buyers Guide
On Spec

Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2012