The project is nearly complete with a few odds and ends to finish, including final adjustments to the irrigation, and some supplemental cuttings to fill in some areas. For the most part, everything looks great, and the sedum cuttings are starting to take root and spread.

We also got a sneak peek at the rainwater tanks in the basement, which is providing irrigation to all of the rooftops during the dry portion of our summer. The project will have 36,000 gallon capacity, which will provide 100% of irrigation demand for the green roofs.

A few images of the simple temporary propagation areas that the volunteers have set up, as well as a more expansive greenhouse area, allowing for a range of conditions for growing plants in various stages. The key to success, in addition to leveraging resources and providing additional educational opportunities, is that the propagation will use green roof growing media as a base, which will allow the plants to acclimatize to the future conditions and be more adaptable to the harsh environment and low-nutrient levels of the green roof. Plants are starting this weekend, so we will see how the experiment goes. (images courtesy of Erubiel Valladares Carranza II)

plant and rock ‘stream’ layout on level 7

fine tuning the grading on level 6

grading and stream bed on Level 5

diversity of semi-intensive plantings including small scale trees and shrubs

remaining areas will get sedum cuttings; note custom bench that mounts to roof davits

Working along with architects from ORANGEWALLstudios and structural engineering from Cascade Design Professionals our team won a competitive RFP that was awarded early Spring of 2011, and the fast track project is expected to be wrapped up prior to this upcoming winter. The multi-roof structure is over twenty years old and in need of replacement, and Metro decided to include green roofing to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability in the region. The existing structure also presented some challenges to structural and seismic loading – but we did manage to find a compromise with a system that came in around 15 pounds per square foot.

The design focused the majority of greenery on the upper roof, and through some alternatives analysis, expanded to some of the lower roofs, resulting in around 2500 square feet of area, or around 65% of the building vegetated. Permitting and review are next – and public bidding set for early summer, roofing work in late summer, and green roof sometime in September. Due to the plans for low maintenance and little need for aesthetics, the roof will be a simple palette of sedum cuttings atop 2.5″ of lightweight growing media, and will include efficient spray irrigation for hot summer months.

Look for photos and updates this summer as the project progresses.

Matt Burlin from the City of Portland gives an overview of surrounding ecoroof projects

View from top penthouse to 4th floor intensive garden @ Asa

The range of adjacent projects visible include Lovejoy Block 2 – which offers a two level vegetated roof of extensive plantings on the top floor and a more intensive terrace below.

Lovejoy Block 2

An interesting project that is closeby is the Ramona Apartments, an affordable complex with a combined ecoroof and solar array.

The Ramona Apartments

The second tour stop was at Machine Works, a mixed use building adjacent to Interstate 405 that includes a modular tray system.

Dan Koffel of Snyder Roofing giving an overview of Machineworks

The final stop was closer to the Willamette River, viewing down from the Encore Condominiums – which features a 1500 s.f. vegetated roof featuring a lightweight system with pre-grown vegetated mats. The goal of this project was to provide stormwater management, as well as to provide views from upper units to the smaller live-work structure below.

The Encore – from above

Thanks to all the attendees for great questions (and braving stairs and cold). Also thanks to EcoShuttle who ferried us from site to site in sustainable style. For more information about the Green Above Ground collaborative and our current work – please visit our website or contact us at info@greenaboveground.com.

The new building, constructed by local folks along with sustainable building firm Green Hammer, from Portland, will be a model of sustainability, with a goal of green building but also an aim to engage the larger community in training opportunities for green building. Read more about the project here.

We endeavor to assist with the design, detailing and implementation of the 3000 s.f. ecoroof, which will cap a ultra-efficient building designed and constructed using the Passivhaus principles. In addition to aiding in implementation of the roof, we are developing a strategy for training by creating a strategy for local community volunteers to propogate plants, including a number of succulant species – growing the plants on-site which will be later used on the project in the form of plugs and cuttings. An early view of the extent of the green roof is found below:

More info soon as this project kicks off!
(images via PCUN website)

The John Ross

Riva on the Park

We moved up to OHSU, where we looked at the skybridge project installed in 2010, then headed up to the Child Development Research Center, a project designed by TERRA.fluxus and installed late in 2010 by Snyder Roofing and Teufel Landscape. Participants got to see newly planted cuttings, and learn about the capillary irrigation and unique design concepts of this 6000 s.f. project.

OHSU CDRC Building

Another tour is scheduled for projects in the Pearl District this week on Tuesday, March 22nd – 1pm-4pm.

I spoke with Ms. McIntyre last year at length while they were in the midst of writing, and was happy to see both a reference to my Landscape Architecture editorial, as well as a nice quotation amidst the pages of the book (pages 164-165). The focus of the discussion was based on the role of design not just for aesthetics, but as part of an integrated process to generate cost effective solutions to make projects a reality:

“Landscape Architect Jason King was able to safely eliminate most of the metal edging on a project and save about $2.50 per square foot. He also tries hard to find appropriate local materials to save on transport costs, as well as for the ecological benefits. No single tweak will necessarily save a lot of money, King says, but factoring costs into decision-making throughout the process can cut the price per square foot almost in half on some project. “That can make the difference between a green roof being built or having it value engineered out of the project.”

The discussion will focus on some of the history and speculation about the future of green roofs and living walls within the landscape industry – an opportunity for companies to establish an expertise in installation and maintenance in this exciting growth industry.

Meeting is at the Lucky Lab in Multnomah Village (SW Portland) – social hour at 6pm, presentation at 7pm.