Discovering Boston’s Green Infrastructure: Tours of Innovative … – Living Architecture Monitor magazine

The 2023 Boston Grey to Green Conference will be providing a series of unique tours to help explore green infrastructure science, economic valuation, asset management, public policy, technologies, and best practices in design, installation, and maintenance.

Hosted by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, the conference will also inform the current policy debate by advocating for a significant increase in green infrastructure investment, a growing trend worldwide. See the full agenda here, and register here.

The tours of award winning projects will take place at various locations around Boston and provide attendees with unique opportunities to witness sustainable design and urban ecology in action. Tour sites include:

The Boston Medical Center Green Roof: Attendees will visit this stunning example of sustainable design and urban ecology, which spans over 7,000 square feet and houses over 2600 square feet of growing space for a wide variety of vegetable crops. The farm provides fresh, local produce to BMC's patients, cafeterias, Demonstration Kitchen, and Preventive Food Pantry. The green roof provides a range of environmental benefits, such as reducing stormwater runoff, improving air quality, and creating habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. Please note that attendees with allergies should be aware that there are beehives on the roof, and only 12 people can use the elevator to go up to the roof at a time.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center - Healing Gardens: Attendees will visit an expansive sixth-floor roof garden, raised 75 feet above Pilgrim Road between the existing Rosenberg Building and the inpatient floors of the bed tower. The 11,000 square foot dedicated space provides patients and staff with an opportunity to escape the stressful hospital environment and gain respite and relaxation to help the healing process.

CALA Powderhouse: This previously vacant building was granted a new lease on life when architect Sebastin Mariscal secured development rights on the property from the City of Somerville. CALAs sunken central courtyard and upper landing were each marked as green roofs in the renovation design, totaling 28,939 square feet of publicly accessible green space. Recover installed both sections of green roof as well as the hardscaping for the courtyard and its connected pathways.

Harvard Science and Engineering Complex Tour: Attendees will visit the new Science and Engineering Complex (SEC), located on Harvard Universitys emerging Allston campus. The SEC integrates one of the countrys most diverse and exciting engineering programs into a single 535,000 square foot structure that will accommodate teaching and research laboratories, classroom space, faculty and staff offices, and a host of amenity spaces. As the home of the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), it defines a new series of environments that support SEAS profound commitment to interdisciplinary and collaboration both in teaching and research.

One Canal Tour: Attendees will witness Recover Green Roofs' remediation project on a multi-use building located at Bostons Rose Kennedy Greenway. The existing third-floor terrace and 13th-floor pool deck had seen massive plant die-offs due to an irrigation failure that left plants without water for an extended period. Recover's field crew installed a new irrigation system in the nine mounded beds and replaced multiple sections of irrigation across the two roofs. After evaluating other areas of plant failure, they noticed that the mounded beds were being eroded by high winds, so they reduced the height of the mounded beds by removing geo-foam and soil media. The green roofs have now been restored to their original intention, providing habitat for birds, stormwater retention, and aesthetic beauty.

These tours offer an exclusive opportunity for attendees to witness firsthand the nuts and bolts of green infrastructure design and installation and discover the value green infrastructure investment and sustainable design in urban settings. Don't miss your chance to be a part of the Boston Grey to Green Conference.

See the full agenda here, and register here.

Thank you to our sponsors: BSA, BSLA, HMFH Architects, Inc., Rooflite, Naturcycle, Recover Green Roofs, and Devens

About Us

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC) is a non-profit 501(c)(6) professional industry association working to grow the green roof and wall industry throughout North America since 1999. Our mission is to develop and protect the market by increasing the awareness of the economic, social, and environmental benefits of green roofs, green walls, and other forms of living architecture through education, advocacy, professional development, and celebrations of excellence.

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Discovering Boston's Green Infrastructure: Tours of Innovative ... - Living Architecture Monitor magazine