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Green Roofs Top Off The Minneapolis Public Library
The five-story Central Public Library of Minneapolis, MN, is an architectural
benchmark for Midwestern urban landscapes and sets an example for sustainable
building design. The new Central Public Library features an extremely energy-efficient
design, complete with three green roofs, and is being billed by the city as an
architectural jewel that will support a vibrant downtown culture.
The Kestrel Design Group (Landscape Architect) was faced with the challenge
of creating an extensive green roof that would retain storm water runoff, while
supporting the high-tech needs of a modern information hub and preserve the
library's
fragile historical collections.
For help on the project's most vital feature, the Kestrel Design Group selected
Henry® Company based on their proven track record for providing high performance
green roofing systems.
The green roof infrastructure proposed by Henry® Company and The Kestrel
Design Group meets both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Mississippi
Watershed Management Organization's storm water mandates. The importance of managing
storm water runoff into the Mississippi River from the downtown Minneapolis development
was a critical design component in the specification of the Henry® Green
Roof for the new building.
The Central Public Library's green roof system employs two water management
systems, working together, to retain the storm water that reaches the property
to be captured
and reused. First, directly beneath the vegetation across the entire growing
platform, the green roof uses a Henry® DBR Rootbloc System. This water
management system captures a portion of storm water in small plastic cups,
which then re-hydrates
the green roof by evaporating upwards through the soil. Water in excess of
what the subterranean plastic cups can hold is channeled into a secondary water
management
system.
This secondary water system collects excess storm water in below grade water
storage tanks. The water collected in these tanks is then pumped back onto
the roof where the rooftop gardens and streetscape are automatically watered
with
a slow-drip watering system.
The Central Public Library's three green roof systems cover more than 18,560
square-feet, with an extensive vegetation design that includes prairie plants
and hearty indigenous vegetation that thrives in Minnesota's harsh climate.
The green roof landscaping grows in a specially designed light, growing medium
and
with two water management systems, very little maintenance is required. The
landscape design is intended to connect the culture of the community with nature.
A variety of plant species were chosen to form a changing wave of colors
across the roof during different seasons, thus reflecting the Mississippi River's
strong influence on Minneapolis and Minnesota.
Benefits include reduced building energy consumption, new green space in
downtown Minneapolis, reduction of urban heat island signature and increased
longevity
of the library's roof system.
For more information on this or other projects call Henry® Company at 800.598.7663
or visit them on the web at www.Henry.com.
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