Published 04-05-05
Submitted by American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)
"Landscape architects are leading many green roof projects across the US and abroad, so it's only fitting that ASLA provide a demonstration project on this sustainable technology that can cure so many urban ills," said Nancy Somerville, executive vice president of the ASLA. "We hope to provide a catalyst for more green roof development in Washington and beyond."
A green roof is a roof substantially covered with vegetation. Since the 1970's, green roofs have increasingly become part of the European landscape, where there are over 100 million square feet of planted roofs today. Faced with soaring and unpredictable energy costs and the desire for higher performance buildings, more U.S. building owners are opting for green roof technology.
Studies show that green roofs provide incredible economic, environmental, and esthetic benefits. Green roofs:
"Our firm is very excited in taking the lead for the ASLA to have a green roof on their headquarters," says Michael Van Valkenburgh, FASLA. "It is an important symbolic step for the organization to affirm our Society's commitment to the green movement and environmentalism, but also to see a way that the issues of design and habitation can be folded into the investigation. It would be a wonderful thing for ASLA to have one of the first green roofs in the neighborhood and we think it could potentially contribute very positively to the image of the Society, as well as the reading of the building in the city fabric."
"The project is intended to be a highly visible demonstration of the practical benefits of vegetated green roofs, and to highlight the critical role of landscape architects in the greening of buildings in urban and suburban environments," says David Yocca, ASLA, of Conservation Design Forum.
Founded in 1899, ASLA is the national professional association for landscape architects representing more than 15,000 members. Landscape architecture is a comprehensive discipline of land analysis, planning, design, management, preservation, and rehabilitation. ASLA promotes the landscape architecture profession and advances the practice through advocacy, education, communication, and fellowship. ASLA is a co-sponsor of the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities' annual meeting May 4-6, in Washington, D.C. Learn more about landscape architecture online at www.asla.org, and more about green roofs and the May green roofs conference at www.greenroofs.org.
Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc. (MVVA) has directed the design and construction of more than 350 landscapes for institutional, public, and private clients across the United States and in Canada, France, and Korea. MVVA has offices in New York City and Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Conservation Design Forum is an ecologically based planning and design firm focused wholly on the sustainable integration of water into the context of built and natural environments. They are based in Elmhurst, Illinois.
Gensler is a leading global architecture, design and strategic consulting firm, with 1,800 people and offices in 27 cities across the U.S., Asia and Europe. Gensler currently has 426 LEED accredited professionals on staff. Fast Company magazine calls Gensler "one of the world's most influential design firms."