by Brianna Crandall — March 7, 2014— Xero Flor America (XFA), official distributor for the Xero Flor Green Roof System in the United States, announced that its green roof system has been installed at the Findlay Teller Apartments, Bronx, New York. The green roof is part of an extensive renovation project on the historic building, which provides subsidized, affordable housing for low-income seniors.
Completed in September 2013, the 9,925-square-foot green roof is one of the renovated apartments’ green building elements. Maspeth Roofing & Contracting, the roofing contractor for the project, recommended the Xero Flor system. “Xero Flor America is a well-established company with a proven system that could be incorporated under the new roof warranty,” said John Schenone, owner, Maspeth Roofing. “We had worked with them on other projects. They get all the right components to the site at the right time and have a technical representative on site to resolve any questions during an installation.”
The Xero Flor system is an extensive green roof assembly with lightweight, pre-vegetated mats, delivered with well-developed, mature plants that roll out like sod for ease of installation. The system is based on a design originally engineered in Germany and refined over more than four decades. In Xero Flor mats, the plants and a layer of engineered growing medium are grown together on a durable geosynthetic textile carrier.
Regionally grown on local, independent farms, with 100 percent American-made system components for projects in the United States, Xero Flor has been proven successful and sustainable in tens of thousands of flourishing installations covering hundreds of millions of square feet worldwide, says the company. Xero Flor has been installed in 38 states since 2002, and the company now has a total of 85 green roof installations in New York City.
Antonio Freda, Freda Design Associates, architect for the building renovation, and Joe Cicciu, president, Findlay Teller Housing Development Fund Corporation, which owns and manages the apartments, both expressed their appreciation for the Xero Flor green roofs and the company. Cicciu noted that unlike many buildings where the green roofs are not visible to be enjoyed, the Findlay Teller has green roof sections installed on the terrace level and second floor roofs, so 90 percent of the apartments have a view of the green roof.
The Findlay Teller building was constructed in 1906 as a hospital, and has a long history and rich architectural detail. Converted to subsidized senior housing in 1978, it had unfortunately fallen into disrepair and went into foreclosure. But today, after a complete renovation managed by Notias Construction as the general contractor, Findlay Teller offers 32 refurbished, affordable one-bedroom apartments and 131 efficiency units.
The building was renovated according to Enterprise Green Communities Criteria, which define standards for green building practices that are required by New York City as applicable to affordable housing. Thus, the renovation included a new structural roof with two layers of insulation, high-efficiency boilers, replacement windows, and new energy-efficient lighting. In addition to the green roof from Xero Flor America, permeable pavement in the parking area also reduces stormwater runoff.
