2005 Green Roof Awards of Excellence

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities has announced the third annual Green Roof Awards of Excellence “to recognize green roof projects which exhibit extraordinary leadership in integrated design and implementation.” Intensive green roofs have more than 6" (152 mm) of planting medium, while extensive have 6" or less. More information about green roofs and about the winning projects is online at www.greenroofs.org.

North Beach Place in San Francisco, California. This mixed-use development includes 2 acres (0.8 ha) of green roof made up of courtyards of various sizes and shapes, including six children’s play areas.

Yorktown Square Condominiums in Falls Church, Virginia. This 4,700 ft² (437 m²) green roof was intended to demonstrate how green roofs and other stormwater-management strategies can improve water quality, decrease erosive stormwater, and improve the ecological health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois. At 24.5 acres (1 ha), Millennium Park is perhaps the largest intensive green roof in the world. The project completes the northwest corner of the 320-acre (130 ha) historic Grant Park in downtown Chicago and covers two parking garages, a transit center, and an indoor performance theater.

Heinz 57 Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This 12,000 ft² (1,115 m²) green roof covers the 30' wide (3 m) terrace surrounding top-floor executive offices of the former Gimbel’s department store. Located in Pittsburgh’s dense business district, the roof is visible from most downtown high-rise buildings.

Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. This 10,000 ft² (930 m²) therapeutic park and garden provides respite and sensory stimulation to patients through plants selected for fragrance, texture, and color. Occupational, physical, and recreational therapists; speech and language pathologists; and psychologists all use the garden in their work.

Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. This 24,000 ft² (2,230 m²) green roof is spread across 13 roof areas of the Seminar II project (see the

BuildingGreen Suite Case Studies Database), which was designed to reflect the school’s mission and values.

Karen Moyer, environmental coordinator with the Environmental Services Department of the City of Waterloo, Ontario, was recognized for her “outstanding contribution to her community and the development of the green roof industry.”