Greenroofs.com Project of the Week: 1/27/14

National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Library, Building 10
Bethesda, MD, USA
4,400 sq. ft Greenroof

Project Description & Details

The NIH Library is an open stacks biomedical research library whose collection and services are developed to support the programs of the National Institutes of Health and selected U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agencies. Supplied by Tremco, the project was the first retrofit of an existing NIH roof with green roof technology and was a cooperative effort between the NIH Library and the Office of Research Facilities Division of Environmental Protection.

The NIH Library Green Terrace is an extension of the redesigned NIH Library facility and serves as an outdoor green garden oasis for NIH staff and visitors. The environment provides a natural, relaxing setting for individuals and groups to retreat, read, reflect, and rejuvenate. Some of the garden areas are drought tolerant, while others are designed for more traditional perennial gardens including an annual zone that features several types of tropical plants currently being researched at NIH for their medicinal values. Sustainable features beyond the vegetated roof surfaces include a white-reflective Rock-It™ roofing system and 22 solar panels which supplement the project’s energy use powering the terrace lighting and irrigation pumps.

Year: 2009
Owner: National Medical Library
Location: Bethesda, MD, USA
Building Type: Municipal/Government
Type: Semi-Intensive, Test/Research
System: Single Source Provider
Size: 4,400 sq.ft.
Grade: 1%
Access: Accessible, Open to Public

Designers/Manufacturers of Record:

Engineering & Construction: Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR)
Design/Build: WTI, a subsidiary of Tremco Incorporated
Landscape Architect: Heidi Natura, Living Habitats
Landscape Contractor: Furbish
Vegetated Roof System: Tremco Roofing and Building Maintenance
Plant Supplier: Green Roof Plants/Emory Knoll Farms
Irrigation: KISSS

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.