Green Roof Short on Funds, but Ready to Grow

While at the University, you have probably at some point noticed the open roof area at the 4th floor of One Pace Plaza. You may have noticed it out the windows while going to your classes in the west wing of the main building or heading to Maria's Tower. You have probably wondered why the University has not taken advantage of all this open space. The truth is that the University has been well aware of the possibilities for this open roof top for a long time.

More than the University community, the New York Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has noticed that the 32,000 square foot roof could be put to better use than the unattractive, empty space we see today. Of that came a suggestion to build a green roof, a project that would benefit both the University and the public.

"There are two kinds of green roofs, intensive and extensive," Haskin's laboratory biologist Michael Levandowsky explained. "The intensive is more of a garden on the roof. It requires a lot of cost and care. The extensive green roof is only a few inches of growth and requires much less care. It mostly lives off the rainwater."

Because of the limited budget ($60,000 grant) at hand, it is likely that the green roof will be an extensive green roof.

Dr. Richard Schlesinger, professor of biology and health sciences, said, "Pace was given a small grant from the EPA to do initial studies to find out what type of plants would do best on the roof." These studies will include the monitoring of plants on the roof and studying of the quality of water that comes through the plants.

"We have a lot of run off in the streets, and this carries down chemicals. Green roofs absorb a lot of rain," Levandowsky said. However, the absorbency does not just help keep chemicals from getting into our water. When there are large amounts of rainwater, the sewers sometimes overflow. On occasion, this allows raw sewage to get into the water.

The green roof could help the University in various ways, in ways as little as saving money on heating and air conditioning as the vegetation covering the roof works as an insulator. Thus, in the winter, heat is held in, and in the summer, it helps the building stay cooler.

More importantly, the green roof will benefit students, who will be able to use it for research in courses such as, "The Urban Green Roof," a special topics course to be offered in the spring.

There are already a number of students and faculty involved in the green roof committee, but they are always looking for more help. Eventually, when funding allows, they hope to be able to pay students for their help in maintenance.

"The preliminary work will probably take about another year," Schlesinger said. "We expect the design to be finished within a year, and construction to start sometime after."

While the project may currently be a little underfunded, many people are dedicated to the creation of the green roof. Its construction should be a rewarding process because it is not just for the beautification of the University. It will also help the community while students gain knowledge and earn credits.

For more information on the Green Roof Project, contact Schleslinger at (914) 773-3707 or Levandowsky at mlevandowsky@pace.edu.