Recover Green Roofs (RGR) proudly celebrates its 15th anniversary this year with the completion of a landmark green roof project at Princeton University. Founded in 2009 by Mark Winterer and Brendan Shea—who first met at St. Lawrence University—the company has grown to become a leading force in sustainable roof design, installation, and maintenance.

Recover Green Roofs’ journey began with their first green roof installation at Winterer’s residence in Winchester, MA, quickly expanding across the Boston area.

Among their most celebrated projects is the 2015 rooftop garden at Fenway Farms , an urban agriculture initiative atop Fenway Park. Other notable projects include Boston University (Boston, MA) , University of Hartford (Hartford, CT) , the Burnham Building (Boston, MA) , the Abbott Building (Cambridge, MA), Boston Medical Center (Boston, MA) , Harvard Business School (Cambridge, MA), and Whole Foods Market (Lynnfield, MA) .

In addition to being featured on Chronicle in 2023, Recover Green Roofs has earned numerous industry accolades over the past 15 years. These include multiple awards from Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024), several recognitions from Living Architecture Monitor (2013, 2014, 2017, and 2019), and a Sustainability Award from Associated Builders and Contractors in 2022. These honors underscore Recover Green Roofs’ dedication to sustainability and continuous innovation in green infrastructure.

The company’s success is built on steady growth, strong client relationships, and a team of dedicated staff—past and present—who take pride in every project. As Recover Green Roofs looks toward the future, the company remains committed to advancing green infrastructure and supporting sustainable development in communities throughout the Northeast.

“While I’m proud of how far we’ve come, I’m focused on how much further we have to go,” Winterer remarked. “Green roofs offer tremendous benefits, yet they cover only a small fraction of available rooftops. To make a lasting impact, we need to drive down costs without sacrificing quality and create roofs that are resilient and beneficial. My goal is to keep building our talented team and position us as a leader in the industry so we can move the needle on green roofing nationwide.”

A long-term client in Beacon Hill shared their experience of working with Recover Green Roofs: “Recover Green Roofs transformed our Beacon Hill condo’s outdoor roof deck into a stunning, sustainable oasis. Their team’s professionalism, creativity, and attention to detail brought our vision to life with beautiful greenery, integrated lighting, and heating—all of which make the space truly inviting. Four years later, we couldn’t be happier with our outdoor deck; it’s the jewel of our home, admired by virtually every visitor. RGR’s ongoing commitment to maintenance has kept our deck vibrant and lush, ensuring that we can continue enjoying it year-round. Our partnership with RGR has been exceptional, and we look forward to many more years together.”

The horticulture team at RGR also maintains multiple green roofs that were installed nearly ten years ago at Harvard Business School, including the iconic 1959 Chapel. Jessica Fixsen, Sustainability Manager at Harvard Business School, commented, “Recover has been a great partner for campus engagement! At our recent green roof event, they both ensured we had freshly picked goodies and were excellent presenters, sharing their knowledge with the community.”