Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2020 - 14
CASE STUDY
WATERPROOF TESTING :
Photo courtesy S. Peck
ONE OF THE OLDEST EXTENSIVE
GREEN ROOFS IN NORTH AMERICA
HAS SECRETS TO SHARE
BY ROXANNE MILLER
At the time, Mountain Equipment Co-op's (MEC) extensive green
roof was considered revolutionary - installed in 1998 in Toronto, as
part of its commitment to promoting new green building technologies.
V
isited by thousands of people over the years, it demonstrated
the early potential of green roof technology to designers,
policy makers, researchers and the general public. The MEC
green roof is now scheduled for demolition, along with the
building, to make way for a new development. Its age provides us
with a unique opportunity to test the membrane longevity claims
made by the green roof industry.
In 2019 we were able to gain access to the roof and perform a
cut test on two different parts of the roof. One membrane sample
was protected by the green roof, while the other came from an
adjacent part that remained exposed to the elements. I will take you
through the methodology, as well as the results, which might finally
answer that never-ending questioning: Does a green roof really
prolong the life of the waterproofing?
It has been stated as a fact for many years now: green roofs
double the life expectancy of the underlaying waterproofing system.
When and how did this fact emerge? Where was it tested and on
what type of system?
LIVING ARCHITECTURE MONITOR / SPRING 2020 / 14
EARLY LEADERSHIP
Implementing a green roof was a bold and innovative move at the
time, even for a forward-thinking organization like MEC. MarieAnne Boivin, former product manager for Sopranature Canada, was
directly involved in the project from the get-go. "The owners were
actually striving to create an urban oasis in the city center", says
Mme. Boivin. "The green roof was directly correlated to the core
business values of the MEC of quality, integrity, leadership, creativity and sustainability," she added.
The whole building was designed with sustainability in mind,
from spatial design as well as the choice of building materials. This
green roof was not designed to be easily accessible. However, by
allowing architects and engineers, amongst others, to visit the roof,
it gave them chance to see something that was at the time a real
novelty. It made the whole green roofing concept a palpable reality,
and not just a foreign concept from Europe that was not attainable
here. It helped demystified this technology and make it more mainstream, to be integrated in the early stages of design practices.
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Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2020
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2020
Table of Contents
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2020 - 1
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2020 - Cover1
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2020 - Cover2
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2020 - TOC
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2020 - A1
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2020 - 1
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2020 - 2
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2020 - Table of Contents
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2020 - 4
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2020 - 5
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2020 - 6
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Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2020 - 34
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2020 - Cover3
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2020 - Cover4
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2020 - MBR
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2020 - A2
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2020 - A3
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2020 - A4
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https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2020Fall
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https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2019Fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2019Summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2019Spring
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https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2018Fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2018summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2018spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2017winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2017fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2017summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2017Spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2016winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2016fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2016summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2016spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2015Winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2015fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2015summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2015spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2014winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2014fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2014spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2013winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2013fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2013summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2013spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2012fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2012summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2012spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2012winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2011fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2011summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2011spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2011winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2010fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2010summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2010spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2010winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2009fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2009summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2009spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2009winter
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