Project: Solaire Building, New York, New York

Award Recipient: Balmori Associates, Inc.

Bamboo trees provide a windscreen

Solaire Building  The first green residential high-rise in North America

Design Architects: Cesar Pelli and Associates
Owner: Albanese Development Corporation

(Click on the images to see larger versions)

The Solaire Building, located in Battery Park City, New York is the first 'green' residential high-rise in North America. The building's design incorporates two green roofs: an intensively planted 5,000 square foot terrace green roof on the 19th floor and a 4,800 square foot extensive green roof on the 28th floor. These green roofs are an integral part of the sustainable, low-impact design objectives of the Gold LEED rated building.

Both green roofs employ a layered system of an American Hydrotech membrane - MM6125 EV-FR, a root barrier, four inches of Styrofoam insulation, a moisture retention mat and a filter fabric. The lower, intensive green roof supports planters at varying heights from six to 18 inches that contain a growing medium called "So-Lite." In the planting beds a layer of bark mulch is spread over the growing medium to reduce soil erosion due to wind.

Balmori Associates conducted specific research as to what plants would thrive on the roof top at this particular site in order to create a diverse palette that would require little maintenance. The terrace green roof was designed to respond to typical harsh rooftop conditions such as desiccating winds, urban pollution, and intense solar radiation. Self-sustaining shrubs, perennials and bamboo trees were chosen not only for their aesthetic appeal, but also for their ability to resist drought, strong winds, and ability to adapt to shallow soil depths.

The dense strand of bamboo trees planted in the center provide a windscreen throughout the year and shade the green roof's paths and benches.

Plants include groundcovers such as Lotus coriculatus, Sagina subulata, sedumrequienii, and Thymus Serphyllum; grasses such as Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus' and Pennesitum alopecuroides 'Hameln' and perrenials Antennaria dioica, Delosperma cooperi, Geranium sanguineum 'Johnson Blue,' Perovskia atriplicfolia, sedumspurium 'Autumn Joy'. The planted shrubs include Cotoneaster dammeri 'Royal Beauty,' Euonymus fortunei var, coloratus and Euonymus kiautsehovicas 'Manhattan.'

Balmori Associates collaborated with the architects to incorporate a hydrological system into the infrastructure of the building. The green roofs are expected to absorb nearly 70% of rainwater and filter out heavy metals and pollutants from excess runoff. This cleaned run-off water is then collected in Solaire's basement cistern along with the building's grey water and is later used to irrigate nearby parks. The green roof design is also integrated into the Solaire Building's mechanical equipment with the intention of having the garden and mechanical components as unified.

"In its most modest and minimal form, green roofs offer an antidote to the impervious paved world in which we live and which we have very few chances to modify as part of an already built up city," says Diana Balmori, principal of Balmori Associates. The green roofs of the Solaire, integrating architecture, landscape and the urban setting, provide an outdoor oasis for the residents of the building to stroll, sit, and enjoy the garden and the views of Battery Park and the Hudson River.