Greenroofs.com Project of the Week: 5/26/14

Asbury Woods Nature Center
Erie, PA, USA
5,000 sf Greenroof

Project Description & Details

A model of sustainable design with a focus on energy conservation, the state-of-the-art Asbury Woods Nature Center sits on over 205 acres of rich, ecologically diverse land in northwestern Pennsylvania, boasting 4.5 miles of hiking trails. Designed by Schmidt Copeland Parker Stevens, in late 2005 the Center opened its doors to the new addition along with modern updates to the existing 1930’s cottage. The Exhibit Hall features live animal habitats, a turtle pond, an amphitheater/program area, and a live honeybee hive exhibit plus three new classrooms, covered by the 5,000 square foot vegetative roof that visitors see as they enter the building.

Provided and designed by Roofmeadow, a Sedum carpet tops the dramatic barrel-vaulted roof with pitches up to 7:12, creating a striking counterpoint to the forested surroundings of the Asbury Woods Nature Center. The un-irrigated Type I vegetative roofing system has a 5” depth with Sedums and flowering herbs such as Allium schoenoprasum and Talinum calycinum. In the flat portion cuttings of various Sedum species were used including S. sexangulare, S. sieboldii, and S. spurium. A small curved informational kiosk was also planted at the building entrance by Lichtenfels Nursery. The Asbury Woods Nature Center green roof was funded through a $63,892 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Energy Harvest Grant.

Year: 2005
Owner: Asbury Woods Partnership, Inc. and the Millcreek Township School District
Location: Erie, PA, USA
Building Type: Educational
Type: Extensive
System: Custom
Size: 5,000 sq.ft.
Grade: 15%
Access: Inaccessible, Open to Public

Designers/Manufacturers of Record:

Greenroof Provider & Consultant: Roofmeadow
Plant Supplier: Emory Knoll Farms
Plant Installation: Lichtenfels Nursery
Roofmeadow Contractor: Lichtenfels Nursery
Lead Architect & Landscape Architect: Jackie Kaminsky & Gregory Copeland (currently with Domokur Architects), Schmidt Copeland Parker Stevens
Waterproofing Membrane: Sika Sarnafil
Structural Engineer: I. A. Lewin & Associates
General Contractor: Odyssey Builders

New!  Project of the Week Video Feature

Watch the Asbury Woods Nature Center Project of the Week Video below or see it on our on greenroofs.TV on YouTube:

Click here to see the entire profile and learn more information about this project in The International Greenroof & Greenwall Projects Database.

Did we miss your contribution? Please let us know to add you to the profile.

Would you like one of your projects to be featured? We have to have a profile first! Submit Your Project Profile.

Love the Earth, Plant a Roof!

~ Linda V.