Canisius College is a premier private university in Western New York, one of 28 Jesuit Catholic colleges in the nation, and is consistently ranked among the top regional colleges in the Northeast. Founded in 1870 by German Jesuits, Canisius College is named for St. Peter Canisius, a renowned Dutch educator and one of the original members of the Society of Jesus. What began in a single building in downtown Buffalo now consists of 56 buildings located on 72 acres in a residential neighborhood in North-Central Buffalo.

Canisius College installed two 8′ x 20′ G-O2 Living Walls for the creation of an interdisciplinary science center. In retrofitting an existing building, Canisius is seeking LEED certification. They felt that adding green walls would not only be a great LEED component, but also because of the many benefits associated with having a living wall in an enclosed environment, where students and staff may spend their entire day indoors.

Plants have the ability to remove toxic fumes (formaldehyde, VOCs, and carbon monoxide) and soften the environment, easing stress and fatigue. The living walls greet visitors to Science Hall and are located in busy hallways between labs and classrooms. They add life and most importantly oxygen to the populated space, where students and professors learn, study and socialize collaboratively.

Zaretsky and Associates designed the green walls with four plant varieties in a multiple grid pattern. The geometric shapes (squares and rectangles) of plants lend itself to the science and math theme, and are easy to maintain. Proper lighting was designed from the start to ensure each living wall’s success.

With the overall success of Canisius’ first two G-O2 Living Walls, they are moving forward in planning for future living walls on each floor of Science Hall. Properly designed and installed, living walls are viable and attractive additions to any indoor environment. Canisius’ architects and building owners recognize this important element and by setting forth a green building precedent, it will hopefully attract the next generation of environmental-minded students. At the very least, it will act as a visual reminder that science and nature are infinitely intertwined.