Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Fall 2019 - 21

RESEARCH

THE GREATER OHIO LIVING ARCHITECTURE
CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
BY DR. REID COFFMAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GOLA

The Greater Ohio Living Architecture (GOLA) center provides a gateway
for interested people to connect to the fields of living architecture and
green infrastructure by offering teaching and a community of discovery
exploring advanced conceptualization and informed experimentation.
The mission of GOLA is to promote and advance the teaching and
research of living architecture.

he 11.6 million people in the State of Ohio are distributed across five major markets: Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Toledo and
Akron/Canton. Ohio is home to numerous roofing and living architecture manufacturing companies, as well as to many startups. To
cover the region's needs, GOLA is a consortium-based center of three institutions: Kent State University (Kent/Cleveland, OH);
University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, OH); and Heidelberg University (Tiffin, OH), partnering with Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
to enable resources for pedagogy, research, and advocacy linking to the greater Ohio profession, industry, and trade.
The center consists of 19 design and science faculty, working collaboratively on over a dozen research and studio projects and
initiatives. Current research initiatives include:
* Biodiversity Roofs and Living Architecture: Transference and interpretation of novel ecosystems in the Great
Lakes (rock prairies, shale barrens,
creek slumps, gravel bars, bluff rims,
and ledges), for urban and coastal
wildlife habitat.
* The status of research and pedagogy in
living architecture: The inventory and
analysis of current research, funding
sources, course work, theses, and other
academic aspects of living architecture.
* River Dredge reuse/recycle: New
light weight growing media made with
Cuyahoga and Maumee River dredge
has been lab tested and currently under
field trials. Various mix combinations are
targeted for specific ecosystems services.

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* Rare Plant Re-introduction study: The
re-introduction of extirpated and endangered plants: Solidago ptarmicoides
and Viola peditifida.
* Design Decision Tool: A prototype
communications tool has been developed
to aid interdisciplinary teams identify,
design, and select green infrastructure
and living architecture. Currently in beta
testing and will be in market 2019-20.
* Substrate Ecology: Roof soil biota and
community ecology characterizations
(bacteria and fungi) and the relationship to
ecological services. Ohio and Great Lakes
Region, Published results expected 2019-21.
* Substrate Design, Biochar: Testing the effects of the incorporation of biochar into
green roof substrate, on plant vitality and

productivity, runoff water quality, and the
retention of water and nutrients.
* Substrate Design, Organic Matter: How
does the amount and type of organic
matter in the substrate influence the
long-term health of the plant community, and other ecosystem services
provided by green roofs?
* Design and development of pneumatic
green wall: Conceptualization and
testing of multi-patent project on a selfinflating interior culinary wall.
* Block and Building scale Heat Stress:
Data and thermal modeling of extreme
heat events and green infrastructure and
living architecture's role in moderation
of human thermal comfort and health
risks. In phase two.
LIVING ARCHITECTURE MONITOR / FALL 2019 / 21

http://www.LIVINGARCHITECTUREMONITOR.COM

Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Fall 2019

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