The rooftop garden, located in downtown Chicago is situated on top of the Northwestern Memorial Hospital Parking Garage that also houses the Bernice E. Lavin Early Childhood Education Center. Students from Chicago Botanic Garden's Therapy Certification program partnered with hospital and Education Center staff to plant the garden.
Photos Courtesy of Hitchcock Design Group

After working with Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the project team to complete the Bernice E. Lavin Early Childhood Education Center and Parking Structure, Hitchcock Design Group was approached to help design a community gardening space for the kindergarten and preschool-aged children who attend the center.

As the lead consultant, the firm donated numerous coordination hours, schematic design documents, construction administration services and 1,500 ladybugs.

As part of the initial design for the facility, and to meet outdoor activity interests for the day care, the roof of the building had been designed to be combination intensive and extensive green roof with the idea that a portion of it would become a community garden.

Volunteers and staff worked with the children to plant the garden and explain the importance of gardening and growing fresh vegetables.

The future came sooner than expected when the chef for the day care facility learned the rooftop was available to grow vegetables and requested that the planned garden become a reality. The team was given three weeks for design and construction to create a gardening experience for the children who attend the day care. Hitchcock Design Group worked with the staff and client to create a design that maximized the amount of space on the rooftop available for the garden, while factoring in the direct exposure to the elements the space would receive. The building, located in downtown Chicago, is surrounded by many influential residential neighbors who have year round views of the rooftop, which meant the final design had to be visually appealing throughout every season. Lastly, Bright Horizons Childcare Centers, who operates the day care, requested the plan include an option for future expansion, if the children reacted positively to the experience. A final design was created that met these requirements, while also providing the most planting space available. The project was made possible through the efforts of several parties including Lori and Rick Hannon, Moore Landscaping who donated coordination hours, and the volunteers from the Chicago Botanic Garden's Horticulture Therapy Certification program who gave their time and knowledge.