Vukovich Center Greenroof Recommendations
The greenroof to be constructed atop the new Theater
and Communication Arts building on the Allegheny College campus will not only
require a carefully orchestrated installation process but also a mindful and
flexible maintenance plan to ensure the proper function and long life of the
greenroof.
According to the information I received from the
Physical Plant department of Allegheny College, I have formed the following
recommendations:
- The personnel in charge of maintaining the greenroof ought
to be well versed in the operation and repair of the drainage system. The
drainage system is the most important component of a greenroof to actively
monitor because it's improper function can result in structural damage to
the building beneath, as well as prove deadly to the vegetation thriving above.
- Currently there is only one sedum species commissioned for
the greenroof, the Matrona Autumn Stonecrop. From the information I
gathered in my tours of three greenroofs in Northwestern Pennsylvania, I would
advise that more species of Sedum be planted on the greenroof of Allegheny
College. They require less inputs of both water and fertilizer than other
species of vegetation suitable to rooftop application, making them less expensive
in the long run as well as reducing the maintenance burden on Physical Plant.
- Monitoring equipment should be installed in order to monitor
the functionality of the greenroof for both maintenance and educational purposes.
For example, Carnegie Mellon University has installed extensive monitoring
equipment for their greenroof on Hamerschlag Hall. This was done for educational
as well as maintenance reasons. To learn more about the CMU greenroof, visit
the Key Findings page below.
- Informative materials should be permanently installed on
the greenroof in order to further the knowledge and understanding of persons
visiting the rooftop. Perhaps a catalog of the species of vegetation living
on the greenroof and a summary explaining why a greenroof was chosen for this
site in the first place. The Pittsburgh Children's Museum for example, has
been successful in disseminating onsite information pertaining to their greenroof
as well as other sustainable features of the building in the form of charts
located in the cafeteria. To learn more about the Pittsburgh Children's Museums'
greenroof, visit the Key Findings page below.
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