Featured Project: Boston Medical Center Rooftop Farm

Boston Medical Center Rooftop Farm
Boston, MA, USA
2,658 sf. Greenroof

Greenroofs.com Featured Project March 4, 2019

As we contemplate warmer weather here in the Northern Hemisphere, those of us lucky enough to have a rooftop farm are planning our new crops! Such is the case with the fantastic Boston Medical Center Rooftop Farm, another fine example of combining the attributes of a greenroof with patient health.

BMC Rooftop Farm

Implemented by Recover Green Roofs, an award-winning company with tons of experience with rooftop farms, their previous produce growing living roof projects include Fenway Farms and Whole Foods Market – Lynnfield, MA – just to name a couple. So we felt it would great to recognize their excellent work!

And, kudos go to Boston Medical Center for its commitment to sustainable design and progressive healthcare!

Image: Recover Green Roofs

Excerpt from Project Profile:

Voted one of the 50 greenest hospitals in America, Boston Medical Center (BMC) is the largest safety-net hospital and Level I trauma center in New England. A rooftop farm was a natural fit for BMC, which has both a steadfast commitment to a green campus and an integrative approach to health.

Located three stories up on the lower roof of BMC’s power plant building, the Boston Medical Center Rooftop Farm is the first farm on a hospital in Boston.

Image: Boston Medical Center

With a total roof area of 7,000 square feet, the rooftop farm has 2,658 square feet of growing space and harvests about 25 different crops.

The farm began as the brainchild of Dave Maffeo, senior director of support services and Robert Biggio, senior vice president of facilities and support services, with the support of BMC’s Office of Development. Dave worked with Lindsay Allen, who is now Manager of the BMC Rooftop Farm, and John Stoddard of Higher Ground Farm to find a rooftop and growing system that met BMC’s needs.

Image: Recover Green Roofs

Image: Boston Medical Center

The farm was designed and installed by Recover Green Roofs, and Higher Ground Farm manages the growing. Designed to provide maximum growth potential, a modular raised-bed system was installed, the Recover Aerated Media Module (or RAMM). Each individual modular crate is complete with organic Vermont Compost media, remote-monitored smart drip irrigation, and durable roof membrane protection.

The BMC Rooftop Farm grows a wide variety of organic vegetables and herbs and houses two beehives, painted by youth patients at the hospital.

Image: Recover Green Roofs

Image: Boston Medical Center

The resident bees pollinate 75% of the food on the farm, and during peak season there are 80,000 to 100,000 bees in each hive. In its second growing season, the farm grew 5,000 – 7,000 pounds of fresh produce on less than 3,000 cubic feet of growing space.

In addition, the farm offers many wonderful opportunities for educating patients and hosting events for volunteers and children of the community. The Boston Medical Center Rooftop Farm not only provides fresh, local produce to its hospitalized patients, cafeterias, The Teaching Kitchen, and Preventive Food Pantry, but is also part of BMC’s overall commitment to going green.

Image: Boston Medical Center

Year: 2017
Owner: Boston Medical Center
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Building Program: Commercial, Healthcare, Rooftop Farm
Greenroof Type: Semi-Intensive
System: Single Source Provider
Size: 2,658 sq.ft.
Slope: 0%
Access: Accessible, Private

Image: Recover Green Roofs

Credits:

GREEN ROOF DESIGNER/INSTALLER:
RECOVER GREEN ROOFS, LLC

RECOVER AERATED MEDIA MODULE (RAMM) GREENROOF SYSTEM:
RECOVER GREEN ROOFS

FARM MANAGEMENT:
HIGHER GROUND FARM

SOIL MEDIA SUPPLIER:
VERMONT COMPOST COMPANY

SEED STOCK SUPPLIER:
HIGH MOWING ORGANIC SEEDS

Image: Recover Green Roofs

All the Info:

View the Boston Medical Center Rooftop Farm project profile to see ALL of the Photos and Additional Information about this particular project in the Greenroofs.com Projects Database.