Designed to Last: The Long-Term Performance of the Ronald McDonald House Green Roofs in Atlanta

Atlanta, GA | Horizon Roofscapes

A green roof should be as resilient as it is beautiful. In the Southeast, a green roof must do more than look good at installation. The true test of success is longevity. Systems that shine at turnover can quietly unravel under Atlanta’s high humidity, heat and erratic drought cycles if they aren’t engineered for the long haul.

Horizon Roofscapes, LiveRoof® regional network partner, measures success not only by the first impression, but by how a green roof performs a decade later. This philosophy anchors their long-standing partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) and LiveRoof Global, LLC. These collaborations have produced partnerships “rooted” in performance, trust, and accountability.

A Healing Environment, Not Just a Building

Ronald McDonald House Charities provides more than a place to stay. Its mission centers on supporting families when a child is undergoing serious medical treatment and “home” feels out of reach.

In this context, the built environment is a tool for care. Access to daylight, views of living systems, and moments of calm are important components of how families cope with prolonged stress.  Green roofs introduce nature into an otherwise clinical environment, providing restorative views that support families, staff, and visitors during extended stays.

Installed in 2015, the green roofs at the RMHC facilities in Atlanta were designed with this reality in mind. Visible from common spaces and family rooms, they provide a living landscape that evolves with the seasons. However, this benefit only exists if the green roof remains healthy. A failing green roof reduced to bare soil provides no restoration; it becomes a symbol of neglect. For a healthcare facility, the value of these views depends entirely on long-term plant health. A thriving green roof provides years of restorative value, while a failing system quickly loses both its environmental and human benefits

Engineered for Reality

When planning began for the Ronald McDonald House in Sandy Springs, green roofs in Atlanta carried a bit of skepticism. Many early attempts from the 1996 Olympic era had deteriorated into maintenance liabilities.  So naturally, Perkins & Will, LiveRoof provided and Horizon Roofscapes, asked the hard question: How do we make a green roof truly thrive in Georgia?

The answer lies in regional specifics:

Regional Plant Palettes
Species were selected, grown and tested in Southern heat, rather than relying on generic sedum mixes often used in for cooler climates.

Engineered Media
Soil profiles were developed to drain reliably over decades, avoiding the compaction that plagues poorly engineered soils.

Smart Infrastructure
Permanent irrigation was treated as a necessity, not an option. Components that restricted drainage were also intentionally avoided, such as certain filter fabrics, to prevent the “bathtub effect.”

The LiveRoof Advantage: Designed to Endure

The LiveRoof system was selected specifically for its ability to marry “day-one beauty” with “year-ten survival.” Because these fully vegetated modules arrive with 95% plant coverage and are ready for installation, they eliminate the “grow-in” period where weeds typically take hold in built-in-place systems. LiveRoof’s modular system also helps preserve soil structure and root health over time.

In Atlanta, plant health is the foundation of function. A system that looks great on day one but loses 40% of its coverage by year three is a failure. LiveRoof’s locally grown, local plant-expertise ensures the green roof is “battle-ready” for the Georgia climate from the moment it leaves the truck.

Partnerships Rooted in Resilience

Long-term performance depends as much on execution as design. For the first project, at Sandy Springs, contractors, Brasfield & Gorrie, brought a disciplined approach to construction, choosing collaboration over compromise when challenges arose. The Sandy Springs green roof did not just survive—it flourished.

This proven performance guided RMHC when planning their new facility in North Druid Hills. Despite lower-cost alternatives, the team prioritized reliability and long-term value, again selecting LiveRoof, Horizon Roofscapes, Perkins & Will, and Brasfield & Gorrie. Together, these projects show that when resilience guides design, installation, and maintenance, green roofs can thrive for decades—even in demanding climates.

About This Series

This is the third installment in our ongoing series, Longevity of LiveRoof® Green Roofs, where we examine the durability and long-term performance of LiveRoof® systems across North America.

Jodi Griffin is the Business Development Manager for LiveRoof® Global. Questions? Reach out anytime at jodi@liveroof.com.