Philadelphia Museum of Art > Why this project is unique

The green roof industry has been an ever growing business since the 60's. With Regulators becoming more and more environmentally conscious, the construction of green roofs is becoming more mandatory then aesthetic. As the business has cultivated, set Green roof systems have been developed. The two most popular systems used in construction today are known as the "modular" system and the "component" system.

The "modular" system utilizes the placement of plastic tray “modules” filled with light weight soil and plant material. The "component" systems layer specific green roof “components” individually placed and topped off with light weight soil and plant material. Both Utilize light weight soil mixes. These systems typically require the use of drought tolerant plants and "thin profiles" no thicker than 6".

The Roof Sculpture Garden under Construction at the Philadelphia Art Museum is unique in its design by stepping out of the ever growing mold of thin profile modular and component green roof systems. In an effort to blend the necessities of city living into a garden atmosphere that looks as historic as the art museum itself, Olin Partnership has created a composite green roof consisting of a thin layer of light weight aggregate, up to 6’ deep geofoam, specially engineered normal weight soil mixes and only top quality and size plant material.

Thus, Olin designed the geofoam blocks as a light weight layer to create both depth and an opportunity for Mayfield to plant large trees and material that would mimic an on grade, historic landscape design. The planting phase will include cut geofoam tree pits and cutouts for planters. The use of this geo-foam material in the green roof process allows for a more complicated and multi-layered design concept while being economically conscious to achieve their intent. View the pictures below to see the geofoam material (large white foam blocks).

One of the most unique design components is the use of normal weight engineered soil mixes. Mayfield Gardens has headed up the process of reusing, testing, amending and will be finally placing these soil mixes to meet the unique specifications for such a green roof.

Please Contact Us if you would like more info on all types of Green Roofs – See other completed green roof projects for a full resume of Mayfield Gardens Experience in the emerging market.