ATLANTA, GA, Apr. 20, 2009 -- On Apr. 21-22, 2009, Weston Solutions Inc. will install a GreenGrid® Green Roof System atop the dormitory building utilized by Savannah College of Arts and Design (SCAD) at the Woodruff Arts Center in Midtown Atlanta. This is the second green roof project at the Center -- the first, a 7,000 square-foot green roof, was installed on the High Museum of Art's Bunzl Administration Center in 2008.
The new 5,250-square-foot green roof, fittingly completed on Earth Day, sets an example of how vegetated extensive green roofs would benefit the City of Atlanta by adding natural beauty, cleaning and reducing stormwater runoff, reducing the urban heat island effect, reducing energy consumption, extending roof life and improving air quality. These benefits are fully aligned with Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin's agenda for building a green sustainable city.
Patrick G. McCann, WESTON President and CEO stated, "We are very pleased that our collaboration at the Woodruff Arts Center has increased the awareness of the economic, environmental and sustainable benefits of green roofs. We look forward to seeing the results of their efforts for years to come."
To date, WESTON has completed over 400 GreenGrid® projects in 37 states -- installing over two million square feet of the GreenGrid® green roof system. Seven Atlanta projects total over 17,000 square feet. WESTON has provided green building consulting, design, and construction services for more than 20 LEED® rated projects in the U.S.
Why Modular?
With a modular system, vegetation and engineered growth media are pre-planted in lightweight modules made of 100 percent post-industrial recycled plastic. The green roof installed has low-growing vegetation such as sedum, grasses, and other hearty, drought-resistant plants installed in four inches of growth media (soil). The modules, which come in varying sizes, are then placed on the existing roof, one after another.
The project at the Woodruff Arts Center was conceived by Woodruff Board of Trustees member David Harris. It was financed in part by a donation by John Portman of John Portman & Associates and through a Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source Implementation Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources awarded to the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management. Additional funding came from the Kendeda Foundation. Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source Implementation Grants are awarded to projects that prevent, control and/or abate non-point source pollution.
WESTON partnered with local firms ItSaul Natural and Saul Nurseries, respectively, for the growth media and plants for the project.
GreenGrid® Green Roof System is a proprietary technology of ABC Supply Co. Inc. licensed exclusively to Weston Solutions Inc. -- an employee-owned company that delivers integrated, sustainable solutions for environmental restoration, property redevelopment, design/build construction, green buildings and clean energy.
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