D.W. Siver?s Bethany Athletic Club, located in Portland OR, is a newly constructed, three-story, sports fitness complex. The second floor aerobic work-out center, running track and weight room overlooks a 500 sq ft roof deck that was covered in a built-up style roof and a granulated cap sheet surface. With floor to ceiling windows overlooking this roof deck, the building owner approached Columbia Green Technologies (CGT) for ideas on how to improve the roof’s appearance

We at CGT thought the location was ideal for an extensive green roof, and our recommendation was to install a tray system with planted succulents to make the roofdeck more attractive as well as eco-friendly.

In less than three days during the first week of August 2006, CGT, with the assistance of Columbia Roofing & Sheet Metal, installed an AVRS? (Advanced Vegetative Roof System) extensive green roof on the Bethany roof deck. After an initial engineering inspection and water test, AVRS? ?all-in-one?, double-interlocking, HMWPE trays (2? X 2? X 4 ??) were placed on the roof.

The trays were filled with ProGro?s extensive rooftop mix consisting of a blend of pumice, green compost waste and heat treated dairy cow manure. To improve hydration CGT added Zeba?, a water retentive superabsorbent, which we pre-blended into the soil. The trays were then planted with 1 ?? stonecrop sedum plugs, provided by Squaw Mountain Gardens. CGT chose 6 varieties of stonecrop sedum to present a colorful blend of succulent plants which will flower at various times throughout the summer. As of November 2006 the planted stonecrops have already tripled in size and are thriving.