by Brianna Crandall — May 22, 2015—A 4,000-square-foot living roof is nearing completion atop The Colonel, a new apartment community in the rapidly transforming Shaw neighborhood of Washington, DC. Riverbend Nursery and MSM Roofing are putting finishing touches on the green roof that will be visible to the general public, as well as apartment residents and restaurant patrons.
The Colonel, now more than 50 percent leased and 30 percent occupied, is located at the corner of 9th and N Streets, NW, and was developed by a joint venture of CAS Riegler, CityInterests, and Douglas Development Corp., with leasing and management by Oculus Realty.
“We are proud to be supplying this rooftop garden for The Colonel,” said Riverbend CEO Jim Snyder. “Last fall, we custom-planted modules containing a blend of drought-tolerant succulents, including sedum varieties like Red Ice, Dragon’s Blood, Cherry Blast and Coral Carpet. Now when we install the LiveRoof system, the plants will be fully mature for an instant garden with minimal maintenance.”
The District of Columbia has policies that encourage installation of vegetative roofs due to their ability to retain stormwater and restore nature to the built environment. As an alternative to reducing their buildings’ footprints, owners and developers can attain credit toward on-site stormwater management and green space requirements by planting their rooftops.
Named after Civil War colonel Robert Gould Shaw, who commanded the first African American regiment in the U.S. Army, The Colonel offers 70 luxury apartment homes ranging in size from studios to two-story penthouses, along with extensive amenities including a roof deck with expansive lounge area, fire pit, and kitchen. The Colonel’s street-level retail space has been leased to three “exciting” restaurants.
Michigan-based LiveRoof Global is the horticultural science company that developed the LiveRoof Hybrid System, whose natural function and beauty offer a high level of green roof performance at low-level acquisition-installation-maturation-maintenance costs. Combining the best elements of proven green roof technologies, LiveRoof establishes a seamless vegetative surface rooted in a continuous layer of soil, maximizing environmental benefits, energy savings and rooftop aesthetics. Regional growers adapt LiveRoof plants for local conditions and customize plant selection for every project, as showcased on commercial, public, university and school buildings around the globe.
