Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/663706
Putting down pre-grown trays on top of the BMW Group Canada Training Centre, Richmond Hill, ON. Six-storey green wall within Vanier Hall, University of Ottawa, ON. A PR IL 2016 | 21 INSTALLATION PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY FIRESTONE BUILDING PRODUCTS DOUBLESPACE PHOTOGRAPHY/DIAMOND SCHMITT ARCHITECTS COURTESY NEDLAW LIVING WALLS Green roofs and walls offer much more than esthetic appeal by ROBIN BRUNET A ccording to Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC), vegetated roofing instal- lations in North America have flourished enormously since the GRHC began tracking the sector in 2002: anywhere from a 10 to 25 per cent annual growth and almost 1,000 projects completed yearly, for a total of about seven-million square feet. One reason for these phenomenal figures is public policy, with Toronto setting the Canadian standard in 2009 with its Green Roof Bylaw that requires new build- ings to employ a percentage of vegetated assemblies. But the main reasons for the popularity of green roofs pertain to money. Green roofs can save cities money by reducing stormwater runoff and lowering the urban heat island effect. Over the long-term, a properly designed and installed green roof can provide significant savings for private developers and property managers, since they increase the life expectancy of a building's waterproofing membrane, lower energy consumption and increase the attractiveness and value of residential units. With all these components in play, it's no surprise that companies that have entered the green roof market relatively recently are excited about the future. "We've been involved for only six years, but we're already seeing tremendous opportunities to expand our presence in Canada via Firestone Building Products Canada Inc.," says Tom Hanzely, Indiana-based national sales manager for Firestone SkyScape Vegetative Roof System – a global leader in commercial roofing systems. To date, Firestone has completed a handful of projects focusing on water man- agement in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, and Hanzely's optimism is based on his company "being able to design and develop a product that meets whatever the Taking Root different regional building codes require. Better still, for newbuilds and renova- tions we fully support whatever the building architect has in mind, without having to sacrifice the performance of the roof." Firestone Building Products of Canada offers a complete vegetative solution to support the vision of the space. Firestone's SkyScape Vegetative Roof System offers an easy-to-install design solution. Each Firestone system is bespoke, so whether you are after a functional vegetative roof, a designed vegetative space, or a dramatic rooftop garden, there is an option to suit your needs. The systems feature engi- neered stormwater control devices and enhancement layers, field-proven and lab- oratory-approved growing medium blends, and proven plant performance through selection and propagation methodologies. Lastly, the Vegetative Roof System is cov- ered under a single-source Firestone Red Shield Warranty, which provides building owners complete peace of mind. Green Roofs & Walls