IFMA/GNY hosts luncheon on design and installation of green roofs

Attendees of the IFMA/GNY April 17 Toolbox Luncheon were educated in the design and installation of green roofs at the Herman Miller office at 1177 Avenue of the Americas. Michael Madarash, president and chief designer of KokoBo Plantscapes (KokoBo.com), presented the group with a comprehensive and historical overview of green roof technology, going back to 600 BC when roofs of stone temples were planted with vegetation. Today, with the focus on global warming and carbon footprints, green roofs are growing like the plant life they support. Madarash showed how green roofs are "built up" in layers of roof deck, membrane, insulation, drainage, permeable filters, growing media and all types of vegetation. His slide presentation showed examples of successful industrial and commercial buildings with green roofs from around the world, with vegetation ranging from wild grasses to tall trees. Some installations looked like formal gardens while others were left to grow naturally. Examples cited were Millennium Park in Chicago with a huge 24.5 acre green roof as part of the park design; 601 Congress St. which is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified in downtown Boston; The Ford Dearborn truck assembly plant in Dearborn, Michigan; and The Heinz 57 Center in Pittsburgh. Smaller projects down to residential rooftop gardens were also exhibited. The opportune time to consider a green roof is when a roof needs replacement and at the early stages of new construction. In addition to the obvious energy saving benefits of a green roof, an added benefit is extending the life of the roof membrane. Under the right design, a roof membrane life can be doubled by making it green. According to Madarash, the installation cost of a green roof ranges from $8/s/f to $40/s/f depending on the type of roof and extent of the installation. These costs can be partially offset by benefits, some of which are not quantifiable. These include reduced energy consumption due to increased insulation, storm water runoff management, noise reduction, reduction of the urban heat island effect, and aesthetic and health benefits. Also discussed was the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Program, where buildings get certified as LEED by scoring points for the environmental sensitivity of the space. Green roofs may enable building owners to score LEED points. KokoBo Plantscapes has won The National Environmental Improvement Distinction Award presented by ALCA and The National Improvement Merit Award by PLANET. John Poblocki is principal of Real Estate Cost Strategies, LLC and IFMAGNY PR committee member, New York, N.Y.