Landscape & Irrigation

January/February 2016

Landscape and Irrigation is read by decision makers throughout the landscape and irrigation markets — including contractors, landscape architects, professional grounds managers, and irrigation and water mgmt companies and reaches the entire spetrum.

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From the Dunes and Barrens to the Roof Top: The SUNY ESF Gateway Center Green Roof CASE STUDY Their campuses are adjacent, but their landscaping approaches are strikingly different. While Syracuse University uses a more conventional palette of plant hybrids and non-natives (for example, widespread use of orange petunias to celebrate the school color), the College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) strives to follow a native-plant-community approach to its landscaping (using, for example, native goldenrods, oaks, sumacs, and sedges). Thus, it made sense that in 2010, when it came time to design a new 9,400-square-foot green roof, SUNY ESF wanted to use the opportunity to explore using plants from New York natural plant communities. In so doing, common and very rare plants within those communities provide a richer research and teaching environment than could be afforded by the seas of sedums and other succulents that usually dominate green roofs. The new SUNY ESF green roof is an aesthetically pleasing addition to the open space of the campus, and in its exceptional plant diversity. The green roof also provides habitat for a wider range of insects and other animals for study. It is a versatile outdoor classroom and gathering place atop SUNY ESF's award- winning LEED Platinum Certified Gateway Center Building (completed in 2013). The green roof was designed to contribute to the Gateway Center's highly efficient stormwater management system and to aid in regulating building temperature. Significant funding for planting and hydrologic monitoring of the installation came from the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC), which is the arm of Governor Cuomo's administration that provides low-cost financing for local wastewater and drinking water infrastructure. RUGGED FOR THE ROOFTOP The lead landscape architect for the project was Darren Damone of Philadelphia-based firm Andropogon Associates. In order to determine the best plant species for the roof, Damone and his ■ BY MICHELLE SUTTON 12 January/February 2016 Landscape and Irrigation www.landscapeirrigation.com The SUNY ESF Gateway Center Green Roof was designed with ample decking to facilitate gatherings and teaching. Photo courtesy Andropogon Associates

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