Green Roof Installed in Bayfront Park – Sarasota
TA Central Florida finished the following installation in September, more pictures to follow later:
Sarasota, FL: The City of Sarasota will install a green roof on a building in Bayfront Park, beginning Fri., September 17, 2010 to serve as a public demonstration and education tool. The installation will occur on the public restroom building adjacent to O’Leary’s. It is thought this will be the first true green roof within the city limits. “It will be helpful for residents and visitors to see firsthand what a green roof looks like, how it works and how it’s beneficial to the environment,” said Alison Albee, Environmental Specialist.
The project will include building the framework, laying down soils, and planting Florida-friendly and native vegetation, including weeping lantana, wallyberg and aloe. The work is expected to be completed the following day on Sat., September 18.
Green roofs are environmentally friendly for many reasons. They lower the heat island effect, help cool a building’s interior, reduce the volume of stormwater runoff, and clean runoff, which is important in a coastal community like Sarasota. “There’s no question green roofs are good for the environment and that’s why they’re a component of low impact development. Low impact development mimics a site’s predevelopment hydrologic functions,” said Albee. “We’re excited there’s interest in the community for green initiatives like this one.”
The project is being funded through a $14,800 grant from the
Sarasota Bay Estuary Program. In-kind services, including consultation and installation, are being provided by Tecta America, a Chicago based company renowned for its green roof expertise. Dr. Marty Wanielista, Director of the Stormwater Management Academy at the University of Central Florida, is working with Tecta America to design and install the project. Plant material is being provided by John Wheeler Landscape, Inc. in Sarasota.
The public restroom building was selected due to its low elevation and location within popular Bayfront Park, which will make the project more visible to the community. The varying heights of vegetation also will draw people’s attention to the roof.
The demonstration will include cisterns, provided by Sarasota County, which will gather rainwater and will be used to irrigate the plants. The cisterns, painted by students from the Ringling College of Art and Design, are expected to be on display by the end of September.
Environmental sustainability is one of the City Commission’s top five priorities.
For more information about this green roof project visit www.sarasotagreencity.com or contact Alison Albee, Environmental Specialist: 941-365-2200 ext. 6317
