In 2011, the University of Cincinnati (UC) implemented an extensive green roof on the College of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning’s (DAAP) roof as part of façade improvements to the facility.  The roof’s intention not only provides multi-functional ecological and aesthetic benefits, but also serves as a demonstration and educational piece for students in the College.

Part of the roof is dedicated to aggressive growing sedum groundcovers, whose foliage and flowers are abundant throughout the growing season and into the snow-free portions of fall and winter, part of the roof emulates a meadow habitat with fast draining, lean soils, and another section of the room emulates a natural stream-side habitat like environment.

The University of Cincinnati DAAP Green Roof’s plant pallete includes: Sedum Blue Spruce, Sedum takesimense, Sedum album, Sedum spurium John Creech­, Coreopsis grandifleora, Armeria martima, Koeleria glauca, Echinacea tennesseensis, Sisyrinchium augustifolium, Talinum calycinum.

The University of Cincinnati is a STARS Gold Campus, as awarded by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. The University of Cincinnati DAAP offers a 2-year Undergraduate Certificate in Green Roofs, one of the first such programs at a university in North America.