Completed in August, 2005, Hamerschlag Hall was one of the first green roofs established for research within Pittsburgh. The project was completed in conjunction with the 3 Rivers Wet Weather Stormwater Advisory Panel on which Carnegie Mellon civil and environmental engineering professor David Dzombak serves. The extensive green roof was installed on the south wing of Hamerschlag Hall replacing river stone ballast. The project was initiated by students, who were also involved in design and planting. Monitoring equipment has been installed to measure and evaluate performance and benefits. This is a natural looking green roof with high biodiversity incorporating a comprehensive energy and water monitoring system.

Plantings: 4 Sedum species as durable and hardy ground cover; 24 different perennials to improve biodiversity and aesthetics, like Dianthus carthusianorum, Hieracium pilosella, Talinum calycinum, Petrorhagia saxifraga, Salvia nemerosa and Thymus serpyllum among others; 2 kinds of grasses as vertical elements adding height and structure (Bouteloua curtipendula and Calamagrostis acutiflora ?Karl Foerster?). Type and depth of growing medium: Rooflite TM extensive, a FLL-certified growing medium manufactured by Skyland USA LLC. drainage system: Rooflite TM drain, a FLL-certified granular drainage manufactured by Skyland USA LLC. No irrigation system is necessary. Maintenance requirements: The goal is getting stable, natural looking vegetation with high biodiversity. Hence the task of maintenance is not avoiding changes of the original design but giving them direction.