Plants on the Roof

In early April 2009, the Vancouver Convention Centre officially opened for business, boasting the largest non-industrial green roof in North America. Located in Vancouver, Canada, this six-acre rooftop garden is crafted as a habitat for the 400,000 native plants and grasses growing there, as well as for birds and insects, including hives for 60,000 bees.

The building is expected to achieve LEED Gold designation and incorporates significant green building technologies. They include natural daylighting, seawater heating and cooling, natural ventilation, and on-site sewage treatment and desalinization systems that will reduce potable water use by as much as 60-70 percent (compared to similar-sized convention centers).

The current world-record holder of green rooftops is right here in Dearborn, Michigan at the Ford Rouge Truck Plant. Renovated in 2004, this massive green roof retains as much as 1/2 of the rainwater that falls on its surface. Runoff is collected in nearby ponds where sediments settle out before entering the nearby ecosystem. When constructed, 14 species of sedum (such as Biting stonecrop in the photo above) were used on the roof. Sedum is often used for green roofs, as the plants are hardy and their leaves effectively retain water. Many species of Sedum are native to Europe, but have become naturalized in North America.

While it won't be a world record-holder, Chippewa Nature Center's Visitor Center expansion project will also feature a green roof on part of the building. Shown here, this component will serve similar functions to the mega-size roofs described above. It will limit rainwater runoff, help improve insulation, and offer homes to insects, birds and other wildlife. We're currently developing a plan to use as many native plant species as possible in CNC's green roof.

Once the project is completed in Spring 2010, visitors will be able to climb the observation tower and get a birds-eye view of the green roof, solar panels and other energy-saving features. Of course, you'll also get a great look at the surrounding ecosystems which you can explore year-round on our system of trails!