by Brianna Crandall — August 19, 2016 — The Seattle Maritime Academy (SMA) at Seattle Central College is delivering a smart, new education building to the maritime industry in the Pacific Northwest region, and it features a 6,700-square-foot LiveRoof curved living roof. In response to Seattle’s booming maritime industry and growing labor shortage, SMA is more than tripling the capacity of its Marine Engineering Technology program. Up to 150 students are expected to enroll in an expanded range of programs.
The new 24,000-square-foot building is constructed to rigorous sustainability standards, including meeting the City of Seattle’s stormwater management requirements. SMA is applying for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification and anticipates earning LEED Silver certification. It is expected to open in late 2016 on the Ballard campus.
LiveRoof curved living roof
Rooftop gardens serve a crucial role in protecting water quality while preventing and controlling pollution to waters throughout the state, points out LiveRoof. The prevegetated roof provides natural benefits, absorbing as much as 90 percent of the rainwater that falls on it, cleaning the air of pollutants, and deflecting water from municipal waterways.
The 6,700-square-foot LiveRoof curved living roof features a curved design, reflecting its maritime location, and provides natural water pollution control.
The SMA green roof will feature a softly curved design, reflective of the nearby waterfront and its maritime mission. A custom blend of fully grown, “exceptionally colorful” sedum plants will provide natural beauty as well as function in its prominent location.
LiveRoof licensed grower GreenFeathers is working with several local businesses to design and install the curved living roof at SMA. Controlled Rain, a full-service irrigation and landscape solutions company, will install the green roof. HBB Landscape Architects designed the vegetated roof, while Schreiber, Starling & Lane is the architect for the SMA building project.
The new LiveRoof green roof covering the Seattle Maritime Academy is a patented, subterranean modular system that unites soil and plants, creating a beautiful, meadow-like aesthetic. This curved living roof is cost effective, providing operational and maintenance cost savings from increased roof life, reduced energy use and stormwater management. The green roof will also reduce noise, protect air quality and provide immediate natural beauty, says the company.
