Greenroofs.com Project of the Week: 10/14/13

American Life &
Accident Insurance Company
Louisville, KY, USA
16,385 sq. ft Greenroof

Project Description & Details

The iconic American Life & Accident Insurance Company building in downtown Louisville originally gained notoriety for being the last notable work of the famous German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Although the original plan called for a 2-ply modified bitumen roofing system with a white, reflective cool roof coating, the landmark site was able to increase its sustainability and prominence in the area by installing the largest privately-owned vegetative roofing system in Kentucky.

Johns Manville, Green Roof Solutions and American Roofing & Metal worked together to provide a complete green roof system for the American Life Building; a modified bitumen system, upped to 3-ply for added redundancy and protection, was selected. The vegetation used was primarily pre-vegetated Sedum mats provided by Sempergreen, with ten to twelve different species. Enlisting the assistance of Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, three small 12-foot-square test beds were also installed to trial various native and adaptive species to Kentucky.

Year: 2009
Owner: American Life & Accident Insurance Company
Location: Louisville, KY, USA
Building Type: Corporate
Type: Extensive, Test/Research
System: Single Source Provider
Size: 16,385 sq. ft
Slope: 1%
Access: Accessible, Private

Designers/Manufacturers of Record:

Building Architect: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Roofing Contractor: American Roofing & Metal
Waterproofing Membrane: Johns Manville
Greenroof Consultant & Construction Oversight: Green Roof Solutions
Pre-vegetated Mat System: Sempergreen
Greenroof System: Green Roof Solutions
Research Plots & Monthly Maintenance: Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest
General Contractor: Turner Construction Company

Make sure to read all about the American Life & Accident Insurance Company greenroof in the Greenroofs.com October Guest Feature “Kentucky Green: Vegetative Roofing in Downtown Louisville” by Reed Hitchcock, Executive Vice-President of ARMA, the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association.

Click here to see more information about this project in The International Greenroof & Greenwall Projects Database.

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Love the Earth, Plant a Roof!

~ Linda V.