Seattle’s second new streetcar line, First Hill, is expected to be completed in early 2014 and will boeast a green roof atop its newly-constructed maintenance facility. Green roofs, or vegetation on roofs, offer many benefits, including beautification, water management, air purification, and an increase in energy efficiency. Installation of the LiveRoof® green roof system by GreenFeathers® will begin on September 25th, 2013 and is expected to be completed within a few days.
The 10,000 square-foot facility roof will be planted with sedums. These drought-tolerant plants require little care, thrive in full sun with good drainage and suppress weeds. This green roof is just one of the features of this building which will help to certify it as under the LEED Silver under the US Green Building Council’s nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. Certified LEED buildings cost less to operate and are physical demonstrations of the values of the organization that own and occupy them.
“Green roofs help reduce urban temperature, noise pollution, minimize water runoff, and provide wildlife habitat to birds and bees. These systems can be sustained for decades.” According to Terrance Plumb, Senior Project Manager with Seattle Department of Transportation, “The green roof is expected to last two to three times as long as a traditional tar and rubber roof, and it will help keep polluted water out of local waterways by absorbing excess rainfall.” The maintenance and operations facility’s function is housing operation personnel, as well as strong and maintaining the streetcars.
Naomi Morgan, sales representative at GreenFeathers, notes that while people will be going about their business using the new public transportation system, the living roof system will be quietly and constantly working above producing ongoing benefits, “Green roofs help reduce urban temperature, noise pollution, minimize water runoff, and provide wildlife habitat to birds and bees. These systems can be sustained for decades.”
Seattle’s First Streetcar line, South Lake Union Line, began operation in 2007. When completed, the First Streetcars will be an important connection in the regional transit system. The streetcar line will stop in Pioneer Square, Chinatown/International District, Central Area, Yesler Terrace, First Hill and Capitol Hill. This route will link diverse residential neighborhoods, business, arts, sports and entertainment districts, as well as educational and medical centers.
Learn more about this project on YouTube.
