Skokie, Ill., October 2006 – When a green roof installation seemed the only fitting proposal for the retrofit of the twelve-year-old headquarters building of American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) in Washington, D.C., green roof experts, Magco, Inc., a Tecta America Company, answered the call. 

“As stewards of the environment, sustainability is top-of-mind for this professional organization, and Magco was pleased to be chosen to perform the ASLA installation,” said Magco president, Mark Gaulin, who also currently serves as president of NRCA.

Magco was contracted to install the membrane, insulation, and all associated green roof components for intensive and extensive areas, including drainage, fabrics, growing media and plants. Magco has proven itself a leader in green roof installation and maintenance with a number of recent high-profile green roof installations, including the new Bronx County Courthouse building in NYC.

Magco’s Green Roof Specialist, Angie Durhman, who was onsite during the ASLA green roof installation said, "While we didn't specify the plants for this

green roof, the trial of plant species is unique.  More than 35 different plant species were selected based on their drought tolerance and native habitats, including woody trees and shrubs, herbaceous, and succulent perennials."

Plant evaluations later in the year showed some species performed better than others, which were then either replaced or substituted. Plants included black-eyed Susans, sumacs, grasses, dianthus, prickly pear, and various stonecrops.

In addition to possibly doubling the life of the roof, green roofs provide esthetic and environmental benefits which include: stormwater retention, air filtering, and helping to decrease the urban heat island effect. Green roofs also provide at least 10 decibels of noise abatement, and an energy savings of between 10-15%.

The Tecta team of nine green roof installers completed the 3,000 square foot green roof installation in 5 days, in time for an opening event to coincide with Earth Day.

The ASLA green roof is open to the public for tours, and a live webcam is onsite to allow the curious onlooker to simply watch the grass grow at http://www.asla.org/land/050205/greenroofwebcam.html.