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Before/After (photos courtesy of Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay)

Fast Facts:

Name: SunTrust Bank 

Type: Green Roof

Drainage area of project site: 11,000 square feet

Outflow : To sewer/stormwater system   

Efficiency rating:

Time of Concentration:

Urban retrofit: Yes; installed over portion of existing roof.

Cost: $28,000 from challenge grant.  This project received funding from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Chesapeake Bay Program at the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, via grant agreement number BAY-2004-21-SR.  Additional partners include Davis Harris & Associates and International Roofing.

Maintenance issues: Weeding and inspection

Access to site: Public (with appointment)

Address: 919 East Main Street, Richmond VA  23219

Contact info: Walter Swartley, Facilities Manager, 804-782-5998

Details:

The 11,800 sf. green roof was installed at SunTrust Bank’s Mid-Atlantic Headquarters in August of 2005 as Richmond’s first public and Virginia’s largest green roof. The roofing consulting firm, DavisHarris & Associates, managed the project and International Roofing was the contractor. The existing roof membrane covered with river rock ballast was removed prior to the installation of the green roof. A SiplastTM Green Roof system was installed containing waterproofing and filter layers, soil media and plants. An engineered soil mix was used containing 85 percent expanded shale and 15 percent compost. The SunTrust green roof was planted with a mixture of seven varieties of succulent plants, including sedums, that will mature into a quilt-like carpet, flowering at different times and changing colors with the season (see photos below by DavisHarris).

Cost:

Though initial upfront costs for green roof construction are generally higher than typical roofs, these are offset by the valuable economic benefits gained, including increased roof longevity and building energy efficiency. Green roof costs vary based on the building’s special requirements and the chosen system and design. The cost for a green roof in Virginia ranges between approximately $15 - $30/ft2, as compared to typical roof construction at $5-$15/ft2. The total cost of the SunTrust green roof proved to be very economical at a cost of $15.7/ft2. Similar green roofs could cost even less, depending on the building location and roof accessibility.

 Arial View of Green Roof location (highlighted). 

Other Green Roof Benefits:

In addition to stormwater management, the benefits of green roofs are many:

• Increase in roof longevity – due to protection from ultraviolet light, green roofs are estimated to have longevity of 40 yrs, compared to 7-13 years for a typical roof.
• Increase in building energy efficiency - provides insulating properties, thereby reducing heating and cooling costs.
• Quieter building from insulating, sound-absorbing properties.
• Cool surrounding air by reducing urban heat island effects
• Improve air quality – by reducing vertical air movement, capturing and filtering airborne pollutants, reducing smog.
• Increase habitat for birds and butterflies – partially compensating for landscape lost to building development.

Other Green Roofs within driving distance include:

•Richmond - International Roofing has a “demonstration” roof showing the system that was installed at SunTrust Bank. M-F, 7AM-5PM.

2200 Magnolia St.

Contact: Scott Birch, 804.648.7911 or
sbirch@ir-roof.com

• Fredericksburg - Downtown Greens Community Garden.

206 Charles Street. 384 ft2 garden shed Design was by Jeff Sties, AIA in Charlottesville.

Contact: Tom Miller, 540.371.7315 or
downtowngreens@verizon.net

http://www.downtowngreens.org/projects.htm

• Charlottesville - Albemarle County Office Building,
401 McIntire Road. Two systems installed total 8,748 ft2:
Green Grid® (896) and Envirotech® (7,852). Installed by Building Logics. Contact: Sean Dougherty
434.296.5832 or

sdougherty@albemarle.org

• Norfolk - Hanbury Evans Wright Vlattas + Company Office

Atlantic Building, 120 Atlantic Street. 4,300 ft2
XeroFlor® system installed by Building Logics.
Contact: Dan Bauserman, 757.321.9600 or
dbauserman@hewv.com

• Falls Church – Yorktown Square Condominiums
Bldg. # 2911

2909 Charing Cross Rd. 4,200 ft2 green roof system installed by Building Logics.

Contact: Jeanette Stewart, 703.204.0841 or
inti@mindspring.com

• Alexandria – City of Alexandria Health Dept. 480
King Street. 10,765 ft2 roof visible from Conference Room.

Contact: Tom Wasaf, 703.519.3400 ext 166 or
Tom.Wasaf@alexandriava.gov

http://ci.alexandria.va.us/tes/eq/grant.pdf

• Arlington - Arlington County Government Center,
2100 Clarendon Boulevard. 3,285 ft2 Barrett Green
Roof Roofscapes system is viewable from the county’s 3rd floor conference room.

Contact: Joan Kelsch, 703.228.3599 or

jkelsch@arlingtonva.us

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