“Schoonover Center is a little greener after the installation of a green roof over the main lobby was completed on July 2. The green roof has added benefits by supporting student learning and engaging the OHIO community in a sustainability mission,” reports Ohio University News in a story headlined “Schoonover Green Roof installation completed.”
From left, an Omni Ecosystems employee explains the irrigation system to Elaine Goetz and project manager Brody Bauers.
Construction began in March with the addition of safety features, electrical outlets and plumbing to the roof. After a delay, the project resumed in June with roofing contractor K&W setting pads for drainage and protection of the roof membrane.
Contractor Omni Ecosystems then installed the five sections of the green roof beginning June 28. The company used a soil engineered to be more lightweight than most soils, so the green roof can be four inches deep instead of two, said Dr. Kim Thompson, associate professor of instruction in Environmental & Plant Biology. That will allow for some larger plants.
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Dr. David Rosenthal, an associate professor in Environmental & Plant Biology, will monitor plant establishment and biodiversity with several PACE and other undergraduate researchers in his lab. Once plants are established, Rosenthal will study how the green roof community affects carbon, water and energy exchange with the surrounding environment.
Flumes were also set up to help researchers measure the amount of water that is released from the beds after a heavy rain. These are a unique installation on a green roof and illustrate the research potential of this system. Professors and Drs. Natalie Kruse-Daniels, Julio Arauz and Amy Lynch will study water flow and quality from the green roof compared to an unplanted rooftop.
Read the entire story at Ohio University News.
Follow progress on the Green Initiative Student Organization’s Twitter (@ougreenteam) and Instagram (greeninitiativeou) feeds.
To get involved in learning about green roofs and other green infrastructure, contact Thompson at thompsk3@ohio.edu.
Photos by Dr. Kim Thompson
Roofing drainage pads and membranes are added to the rooftop.
The green roof beds are connected to the irrigation system, which is automated. The pool liner helps to contain water for the plants.
A water flume measuring flow from an unplanted rooftop above the green roof.
The beds are fitted with the flumes that will allow us to measure water flow from the beds before they enter the drains. The drainage fabric is held down overnight with bags of lightweight growing media.
Seeds are planted on the new green roof and are covered by protective mulch which will naturally degrade.
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