Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino recently broke ground on City Hall’s new green roof. One of the roof’s many purposes is to lesson the impact of storm water.
“I am determined to make the city of Boston a leader in green technology,” said Menino. “Not only will it keep us on the cutting edge; it also just makes good sense -- for our budgets and for our environment. Today more than ever, we have to be creative and innovative when it comes to environmental issues and energy efficiency.”
The mayor was joined by Boston Redevelopment Authority Director Mark Maloney, City of Boston Chief of Environment and Energy Jim Hunt, and Stephanie Pollack of Blue Wave Strategies, an environmental consulting firm, to unveil modular pre-grown gardens installed on the 8th and 9th floor terraces of City Hall.
Subsequent installations are planned for late October and next spring. The installation of the greenery features 12 varieties of sedum, a species common for rooftops because they have high water-retention capability, an ability to filter pollution, and are hearty. It will become a living laboratory for city officials as they learn what plants work best and it will become a resource for developers and individuals interested in exploring green roof technologies.
The $30,000 project, funded in part by the BRA, Skanska USA, and the Kendall Foundation, includes the 150 modular gardens, pieces of sculpture, decorative edging along the containers, as well as tables and chairs.
“We are proud to be a part of this exciting project that will not only become a valuable learning tool, it will also become a pleasant destination with City Hall,” said BRA Director Mark Maloney.
The green roof is made to reduce storm water runoff and lesson the impact. Roof plantings absorb rainfall, which reduces storm water runoff and cleans some pollutants from the rainwater.
