Greenroofs.com Project of the Week: 10/31/16

ASLA Headquarters
Washington, DC, USA
3,000 sf. Greenroof

Project of the Week Description & Details

In 2006, the American Society of Landscape Architects demonstrated their commitment to sustainable design by incorporating a greenroof atop their Washington, DC Headquarters. Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates led the design process, collaborating with Conservation Design Forum to develop the design and specifications for the approximately 3,000 square-foot roof surface. The plan was to create a landmark demonstration project, and a primary focus was to make greenroofs more mainstream and demonstrate that landscape architects play a central role in green roof design and construction.

The ASLA roof contains six distinct greenroof conditions, representing extensive, semi intensive, and intensive systems ranging in growing media depths of 3 to 21 inches. North and south “waves” dominate the design, with a central viewing platform with seating areas for the public, and a stairwell structure. The American Hydrotech Garden Roof® Assembly was chosen for the greenroof system, and to effectively confine and stabilize the growing media on the sloped waves, GardNet™ was installed. With plants and consulting provided by Emory Knoll Farms, the plant palette has evolved over the years. The South Wave now consists mostly of sedum and Prickly Pear cactus and the North Wave is covered with 50% sedum, with thread-leaf tickseeds, chives, nodding onions, black-eyed Susans, Virginia wild rye, silver king, and butterfly milkweed. Fragrant sumacs cover the new staircase, and sedums grow profusely under the grates.  Monitored from July 2006 to May 2007, the living roof prevented 27,500 gallons of stormwater – or 77% of all precipitation – from flowing into D.C.’s overburdened sewer system, and it continues to keep the roof temperature as much as 43.5 degrees F cooler than neighboring conventional black roofs in the summer as well as reducing building energy use by 10% over the winter.

Year: 2006
Owner: American Society of Landscape Architects
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Building Type: Corporate
Type: Extensive & Intensive, Test/Research
System: Single Source Provider
Size: 3000 sq.ft.
Slope: 30%
Access: Accessible, By Appointment

Designers/Manufacturers of Record:

Prime Consultant / Landscape Architect: Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc.
Project Manager: Chris Counts, ASLA, Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Inc.
Green Roof Consultant: Conservation Design Forum, Inc.
Structural Engineer: Robert Silman Associates, PC
Architect: DMJM
Plant Supplier & Consultant: Emory Knoll Farms/Green Roof Plants
Greenroof System: American Hydrotech
Roof Contractor/Plant Installation: TectaAmerica/Magco
Edging & Drains: Green Roof Products/St. Louis Metalworks
Lighting Design: Outdoor Illumination
General Contractor: Forrester Construction Company
Architectural Services: Gensler

View the PROJECT PROFILE to see ALL of the Photos and Additional Information about this particular project in The International Greenroof & Greenwall Projects Database.

Project of the Week Video Feature

Watch the ASLA Headquarters Project of the Week Video below or see it on our GreenroofsTV channel on YouTube:

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By Linda S. Velazquez, ASLA, LEED AP, GRP
Greenroofs.com Publisher