Green Roofs Rising

The Gary Comer Youth Center in Chicago has an 8,160 sq. ft. green roof atop its gymnasium and cafeteria.
Photo: Green Roofs for Health Cities

According to the industry research firm Lux Research, green roof installations will rise 70 percent to 204 million square meters by 2017, and account for $7 billion of the landscape market. This presents a $2 billion opportunity to suppliers, and design opportunities for landscape architects.

By 2007 green walls are projected to rise to $680 million and use $200 million worth of materials, such as self-supporting polyurethane foam growth media.

Aditya Ranade, senior analyst for Lux Research and lead author of the "Building-Integrated Vegetation: Redefining the Landscape or Chasing a Mirage?" report, notes key cities around the world are putting incentives in place for green roofs, and a “significant market opportunity is emerging.”

We’re convinced. Three of the four projects featured in this “Green Issue” have dynamic green roofs integral to the designs: Baltimore’s Mercy Medical Center; Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Visitor Center; and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.