The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has received a grant in the amount of $20,000 for the construction of its green roof from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), which is sponsoring green roof demonstration projects in Washington, D.C. The purpose of the CBF grant program is to demonstrate green roof technology, encourage its use, and illustrate the feasibility of green roofs to reduce excess runoff and improve water quality. The foundation issued three grants in 2004, and additional grants will be issued this year.
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Rendering the ASLA green roof, perspective looking south Image courtesy of Michael Van Valkenburgh and Associates. |
One of the main objectives of the CBF grant program is to initiate public outreach activities and to demonstrate the operation and performance of the green roof. This, of course, is also one of the principal objectives of the ASLA green roof. Now that the ASLA green roof has been selected as a qualified project, CBF will carry out education and outreach activities pertaining to the roof.
In its grant proposal, ASLA stressed that it will also be providing educational opportunities through the green roof project in two distinct areas. First, the roof will serve as a demonstration project for “a wide audience of building design professionals, regulators, and real estate investment and development interests, as well as the general public.” Second, the project will help communicate the “critical role landscape architects play as part of an integrated approach to sustainable urban design, architecture, stormwater management, and the greening of rooftop space for multiple benefits.”
ASLA noted that these outreach efforts are already underway, as the entire planning, design, and implementation process of the roof is being documented and summarized for widespread distribution through LAND Online, press releases, and the ASLA Web site. Conference sessions on the green roof are planned for the ASLA Annual Meeting and other appropriate venues, and Christian Werthmann, assistant professor at Harvard University, is writing a book describing the planning and design process for the roof. Princeton Architectural Press is slated to publish Werthmann’s book. Other methods of public outreach that have been discussed include live webcams showing the roof and street level displays that highlight the benefits of green roofs.
In addition to the funds from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA) is making at $5,000 in-kind contribution to the project.
During a conference call last week, representatives from MVVA presented the following projected construction schedule for the green roof project, which was drawn up in consultation with Conservation Design Forum and Gensler. ASLA has set Earth Day, April 22, 2006, as the target date for dedicating the roof.
June 15 – July 15, 2005
The design team will make its final design revisions and present them to the ASLA Green Rood Task Force for review. Once the design is finalized, the team will begin pre-growing the green roof materials.
July 16 – Aug. 15, 2005
The design team will draw up construction documents and present them to the Task Force for review.
Aug. 16 – Sept. 15, 2005
Bidding and negotiations on construction services and materials will take place.
Sept. 16 – Oct. 15, 2005
The design team will acquire the necessary permits for construction.
Oct. 16, 2005 – Jan. 15, 2006
Construction will begin. The team will finalize all contracts and begin architectural work on the building, including demolition, stair enclosure construction, HVAC relocation, enclosure finishes, compressor relocation, roof replacement, and the construction of the north and south waves. Some green roof material will also be installed at this time.
Jan. 16 – March 15, 2006
Construction will be put on hold for the winter months.
March 16 – April 15, 2006
All remaining green roof material will be installed on the roof and any final details will be added.
April 22, 2006 – Earth Day
ASLA will dedicate the green roof.
For complete coverage of the ASLA green roof project, visit www.asla.org. This article originally ran in LandOnline, ASLA’s Landscape Architecture News Digest.