Client: U.S. EPA & General Services Administration (GSA)

Location: U.S. EPA Region 8 Headquarters, 1595 Wynkoop St., Denver, CO

Size: 19,396 ft²

Installation Contractor: Weston Solutions

Green Roof Design: Weston Solutions

Rooftop System: Extensive

Status: Completed Fall 2006

Project Narrative: Installed in October 2006, this project represented the first green roof installed in the city of Denver, Colorado, and one of few in the State.

As part of building design efforts to receive the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED^®) certification, the GreenGrid^® Modular Green Roof System was incorporated into the design of the U.S. EPA’s new Region 8 Headquarters.

The green roof covers 19,396 ft² of the building’s three tiers of roof space. The green roof includes 2,412 of the 2’x4’x4” and 24 of the 2’x2’x4” GreenGrid^® extensive style modules that were planted with mix of six species of Sedum plants. Plant species include Sedum acre, Sedum album, Sedum kamtchaticum, Sedum spurium ‘Dragon’s Blood’, Sedum spurium ‘John Creech’, and Sedum spurium ‘Red Carpet’.

The modules were planted at a nursery in March 2006 and allowed to grow out and mature for six months prior to their delivery and installation in October 2006. As a result the green roof was full and lush when it was installed. Installation was completed in approximately 11 days.

In an effort to help the green roof establish itself in this arid climate, a temporary drip-irrigation system was installed. Plans are for the irrigation system to be removed after two years when the green roof will be fully established and able to sustain itself.

Another element to the design of the green roof incorporated the installation of 1,241 walkway pavers made from recycled rubber tires on two of the roof tiers for maintenance and general access.