Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2013 - (Page 30)

PROJECT PROFILE spReading tHe gReen Roof bug found the roof also was a great attraction for a number of bird varieties.” The design elements used in this project were selected in order to support urban biodiversity—the variety and richness of living organisms and habitat diversity found in urban areas and suburban neighborhoods. Many times, cities and other urban areas can and do have rich biodiversity, something the city of Grand Rapids is interested in with its green initiative. Grand Rapids Mayor George K. Heartwell notes that the CRCNA green roof “has taken green roofs to a whole By: TERRI HUGHES-LAzzELL new level … [in the] city with more LEED certified buildings ment through the management AGA co-founder. “Native esigning green roofs per capita than any other city in of our facility,” said John H. plants are important for all took on a new shape for America.” Bolt, director of finance and adwildlife, especially for providAdvanced Green ArchiThe design incorporated ing food and shelter. For these, ministration for CRCNA. The tecture (AGA) in 2011 when bare soils to create a patch as well as biodiversity consider- organization had made other the company worked with the effect for wildlife to forage ations, it is important to use na- improvements to the building’s Christian Reformed Church for food. The design also tive vegetation when the green heating and cooling system, in North America (CRCNA) incorporated multiple types and then decided that creating based in Grand Rapids, Michi- roof environment allows.” of green roof media, gravel a green roof would be another The National Wildlife gan, on a project that became swaths and logs with snags to step toward its goal. “We have the first green roof to be a Cer- Federation’s Certified Wildlife provide nesting and perching had numerous compliments Habitat requires a property tified Wildlife Habitat by the structures. about the roof,” Bolt said. “The to provide the four basic eleNational Wildlife Federation. Joining AGA in the project roof lies outside of the windows ments that all wildlife need: The CRCNA wanted to was GMB Architecture and in one of our primary conferfood, water, cover and places increase biodiversity and wildEngineering, who provided in which to raise young. Certi- ence rooms and gets close life habitat space in the comthe structural analysis for munity. To help reach its goals, fied Wildlife Habitats also must inspection by employees and the retrofit green roof projvisitors on a regular basis. This conserve natural resources by AGA suggested implementing ect, which was designed to past spring and summer we reducing or eliminating the a green roof design on the incorporate the structural CRCNA’s rooftop, which would need for fertilizers and pestilimitations of the building. cides, which ultimately protects increase plant diversity, create For example, growing media the air, soil and water throughwildlife habitat and improve was mounded near columns out communities. The Certiaesthetics. and beams to support greater The green roof was designed fied Wildlife Habitat program weights. The mounding of began in 1973, and has since to mimic habitat characteriscertified almost 150,000 habitics found in the surrounding tats nationwide. landscape. The designers also While meeting the certificawanted to create higher divertion requirements from the Nasity in plant species, which has the potential to produce higher tional Wildlife Federation, the diversity in bird and insect spe- roof designed by AGA also met the church’s desires to be good cies. “A wide range of plant stewards of the earth. “The species, including some native genus, were used to create vary- CRCNA has a keen interest in ing levels of landscape structure creation care and we have tried to demonstrate our commitand ecology,” said Erik Cronk, GREEN ROOf DESIGNATED A CERTIfIED WILDLIfE HABITAT By THE NATIONAL WILDLIfE fEDERATION D LIVING ARCHITECTURE MONITOR / SpRING 2013 / 30

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2013

Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2013
Contents
From The Founder
Strata
On the Roof With...
Policy and Standards
Current Research
Living Architecture Meets Hurricane Sandy
How Healthy Is Your Hospital?
Leadership
Product
Plant
Conference
Project
Project
Project
New Corporate Members
Professional Calendar
GRHC Board Member Updates
GRHC Buyer’s Guide
The Lucky 7

Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2013