Green Roofs for Stormwater Management

The Forge – A Sustainable Milestone

Bloomington, IN | LiveRoof® LLC

The Forge technology center in Bloomington, IN, is more than just a future hub for innovation and collaboration—it is home to the city’s first LiveRoof® and RoofBlue® Retain system. This cutting-edge green roof marks a significant milestone in sustainable urban development, redefining how cities integrate green infrastructure to enhance environmental resilience.

Photo courtesy of "The Mill"

Stormwater Management: A Smarter Approacht

Green roofs play a vital role in stormwater management by absorbing rainfall, significantly reducing runoff, and easing the burden on municipal stormwater systems. At The Forge, the 5,500 sq. ft. LiveRoof® system—enhanced by the RoofBlue® Retain stormwater retention system—captures an impressive 26,950 gallons of stormwater when dry, preventing excess water from overwhelming drainage infrastructure.

To put this into perspective, 26,950 gallons of stormwater would:

  • Stretch 2.5 miles if stored in one-gallon containers lined up end to end.
  • Fill a round grain silo measuring 16 feet wide by 18 feet tall.

These figures highlight the critical role of the LiveRoof® and RoofBlue® Retain systems in mitigating urban flooding and enhancing water management.

LiveRoof® RoofBlue® Retain System

A Commitment to Sustainability

The Forge was designed with sustainability at its core, serving as a model for environmentally responsible development in Bloomington. The inclusion of LiveRoof® and RoofBlue® Retain underscores a strong commitment to sustainable building practices, inspiring local businesses and developers to prioritize eco-friendly solutions. Key environmental benefits of the LiveRoof® system include:

  • Biodiversity Support: Beyond providing a scenic rooftop retreat, the green roof fosters biodiversity by creating a natural habitat for pollinators and local wildlife.
  • Reduce Heat Islands: Green roof vegetation helps cool the air, slow air movement, and acts as a substrate for pollution to settle out and detoxify.
  • Air Quality Enhancement: The rooftop vegetation naturally filters pollutants, improving air quality and contributing to a healthier environment for workers and residents alike.
  • Clean Water: Green roofs prevent stormwater runoff from combining with sewage and overflowing into local waterways. Urban environments, with their expanses of impermeable surfaces, allow stormwater to run off directly into municipal sewer systems. Living roofs act as a sponge to absorb much of this runoff and keep waterways cleaner.
  • Energy Conservation: Through the process of evapotranspiration, plants create a thermal barrier between the warming rays of the sun and the building. This barrier keeps the cool air inside the building, reducing the load on the air conditioning system.
  • Sustainability: The roof life is expected to be extended by 50 ± years due to shielding from UV radiation, temperature fluctuations and high winds.
  • Reduces Irrigation: The RoofBlue® Retain system captures and retains stormwater. Then, after the storm event, it transfers stormwater upward to the plant roots, for plant growth and transpiration into the atmosphere.

Community Engagement and Education

The Forge’s green roof serves as more than just an environmental asset—it is also an educational resource. The space offers opportunities for community engagement through workshops and events focused on green infrastructure, sustainable gardening, and biodiversity. Featuring six distinct plant mixes—including native grasses, herbaceous perennials, and sedum varieties—the green roof functions as a living classroom, inspiring future generations to embrace environmental stewardship.

Project Partners and Specifications

The Forge’s green roof was designed and installed to align with key sustainability goals, thanks to a collaboration between industry leaders.

Project Details:

  • Owned By: The City of Bloomington IN
  • Design Partner: Rundell Ernstberger Associates
  • General Contractor/Installer: Building Associates Inc.
  • Installation Date: August 2024
  • Size: 5,500 sq. ft.
  • Module Type: Standard System with RoofBlue® Retain
  • LiveRoof® Accessories: RoofBlue® Retain, Maxx RoofEdge®, Maxx Drain Boxes with Lids, Max Tie-Off Boxes 12”

About the Grower

LiveRoof, LLC, a division of Hortech, Inc., is proud to be part of the LiveRoof Global family. Since 2007, we have cultivated and shipped over a million square feet of LiveRoof® modules to rooftops throughout the Great Lakes region.

Our facility in Nunica, Michigan, certified under the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP), spans acres of green roof plant stock grown with integrated pest management practices. At any given time, we are developing and testing dozens of new plant varieties to upgrade our RoofTop Proven™ line, ensuring only the most vibrant and durable selections reach our clients. This dedication to continual improvement empowers designers, contractors, and building owners to create exceptional green roofs.

About this Piece:

This is the fourth article in our ongoing series, Green Roofs for Stormwater Management. We look forward to sharing more insights throughout the year as we explore the impact of green infrastructure on urban sustainability.

I’m Jodi Griffin, Business Development Manager for LiveRoof® Global. Feel free to reach out to me at jodi@liveroof.com for more information.