Why Do a Green Roof? Alberta Canada, Project Showcase – EcoLogic Horticulture

Last year LiveRoof Global ran a series of articles on the topic of Biodiverse Green Roofs-a Current Trend. We kicked it off with a general discussion of biodiverse green roofs, then featured an actual project from each of our licensed growers, one per month. Feedback was positive, so we are continuing this endeavor in 2024, and kicked off the year with an article on “Why Do a Green Roof?” This was inspired by the many unique projects we’ve participated in over the last 17 years. And, within that article we discussed at least 20 unique reasons for doing a green roof. The creativity that we’ve witnessed is sometimes astonishing.

In this edition, we are discussing a fascinating project from Alberta Canada, and each successive month we will feature a unique project from a different LiveRoof grower, throughout North America and abroad. We think you will be as fascinated by the various Whys for doing green roofs as we were. It seems the more we learn, the more we realize that we’re still learning. And, I think the more we learn, the more grateful we are to work in this industry where creative designers and customers are making a difference (for people and planet) each day.

This month’s project, from LiveRoof grower EcoLogic Horticulture, features comments from its president Nathan Gill. Nathan first became involved with LiveRoof after a 15-year career in general contracting and roofing. This prepared him well for the engineering/construction side of green roofing. The ecological part was a passion that became refined on-the-job and through careful research and study, eventually shaping Nathan into the unique green roof expert that he is today. He understands both the constructed and natural world, and his involvement in projects brings a broad and thoughtful perspective.

When asked, “What sets EcoLogic apart?” Nathan didn’t hesitate; “EcoLogic is a small nursery focused on plant material for restoration of natural areas and the greening of the urban environment. We offer the unique and proprietary LiveRoof products and couple them with an intimate knowledge of the plants that work for our geographic and climatic region. Perhaps superseding that is our focus on building relationships (not transactions) and investing ourselves in the long-term success of each project. We are the local experienced green roof experts and have completed dozens of successful projects – of all sizes and types, residential, public and commercial”.

The project that Nathan chose to feature, as an example of “Why do a Green Roof?” is the Calgary Cancer Center. Also known as the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre, which focused on three overarching green roof benefits to make it actionable.

Benefit #1:

Financial Stewardship. When done right, a green roof should pay for itself through a 200%+ extension of the roof life. This expectation is based on historical projects from Europe where green roofs began, and where they have proven to extend the lifetime of waterproofing materials by 50+ years. This is particularly significant in Nathan’s market region which is subject to intense summer sun, hail storms, blasting wintertime winds, and extreme cold. Such climatic extremes cause waterproofing materials to fatigue, tear, crack and fail. But, when protected by the soil and plants of green roofs, such forces are moderated or neutralized.

A thick cover of unique blanketing Sedums is the glue that knits this roof together.

And, it all begins at “the farm”, with plantings fully grown before delivery and installation.

Benefit #2:

Wellness. As a cancer treatment center, with patients and staff overlooking the rooftop, there is also a strong wellness or biophilia driver for this project. Visible green roofs, as with other visible natural features (such as meadows and forests), have been proven to reduce patient healing time, reduce the need for pain medications and increase patients’ contentedness. And, for staff who work in this oftentimes stressful environment, they benefit as well. Research has shown that having a connection to nature, even if simply viewed from a window, can increase productivity, reduce stress and absenteeism, and increase employee retention. In the case of the Calgary Cancer Center, its green roof sits atop Level 8, with levels 9-12 looking down directly onto the roof.

Benefit #3:

Accessibility. This green roof integrates with garden like space, which is divided into two accessible areas; one accessible to patients and the other accessible to staff! In other words, the rooftop has become a garden and all that a garden can do—a place to pause, reflect and decompress. Gardens are restorative and what better place to have a restorative healing garden than at a hospital.

Overview of Level 8 LiveRoof®

“LiveRoof planting in the staff-accessible relaxation garden”

Nathan credits Landscape Architect Andrea Kennedy as the visionary for this project and says “The overall site is a great example of urban greening and providing a connectedness to nature, for patients, visitors and staff. The building not only has an accessible green roof, but also has an inner courtyard in the “heart” of the building and an external courtyard showcasing native grasses and trees.” Ecologic also supplied the native grass in the form of their proprietary NaturesTurf product.

Project details

Nathan credits Landscape Architect Andrea Kennedy as the visionary for this project and says “The overall site is a great example of urban greening and providing a connectedness to nature, for patients, visitors and staff. The building not only has an accessible green roof, but also has an inner courtyard in the “heart” of the building and an external courtyard showcasing native grasses and trees.” Ecologic also supplied the native grass in the form of their proprietary NaturesTurf product.