Tag Archives: Green roof

Natural Systems Engineering’s Kyle Thomas Quoted in Long Island’s Newsday

Natural Systems Engineering’s Principal, Kyle Thomas, was quoted for this Newsday (New York) newspaper article on green stormwater management.   The story describes how the Nassau County municipalities of North Hempstead, Great Neck Plaza and Floral Park have released their 2017 Stormwater Management Reports calling for the management of stormwater water in an eco-friendly manner.  Thomas was interviewed to provide a somewhat technical perspective on what management of stormwater in a green fashion actually means.

 

A Village of Great Neck Plaza street sweeper

Birds Eye View of New Green Roof at Zip Networks!

As seen from a passing drone, shown is the new vegetated roof at Zip Networks, 100 Wilkinson Street, Syracuse.  The green roof is an extensive green roof planted with sedum.  Construction was performed by Shaffer Building Services (Syracuse, New York) based on the design of Natural Systems Engineering.   The roof looks brown due to the erosion control mat, but will be green by the end of the season!  The project was funded by Onondaga County’s award-winning Save the Rain program.

Birds Eye View of Zip Networks Vegetated Roof.

Birds Eye View of Zip Networks Vegetated Roof.

Onondaga Tower Green Roof Completed

Construction of the Onondaga Tower Green (vegetated) roof was completed on September 14.  Irrigation to continue for 2 weeks to until cuttings are established.  Check back for updated photos next year!

Post-construction photograph of Onondaga Tower green roof

Post-construction photograph of Onondaga Tower green roof

Onondaga Tower Green Roof Begun!

Construction of the green (vegetated) roof at Onondaga Tower began on September 13, 2014.  The building is the former HSBC Bank Building, a 15-story combined parking and office building currently owned by CBD Development Corp.  The green roof is an approximately 5000 sq ft extensive vegetated roof funded by Onondaga County’s Save the Rain program.   The green roof was designed by Natural Systems Engineering.  Shaffer Building Services is performing the installation.  The photograph below shows the placement of the growing medium, into which sedum will be planted.

Vegetated Roof Growing Medium Placement

Vegetated Roof Growing Medium Placement

Green Roof at Graham Millworks Well-Established at 1 Year!

After 1 year, the extensive green roof at Graham Millworks located at Richmond Avenue in Syracuse is well established.  The vegetated roof was planted in place in the Summer of 2013 using sedum plugs.  This aerial view was obtained from a nearby building in September 2014.  Green roof designed by Natural Systems Engineering, PLLC.  Plants and soil supplied by Motherplants, Ithaca, New York.

Aerial view from south of Graham Millworks. September 2014.

Aerial view from south of Graham Millworks. September 2014.

Green Infrastructure Makes Business Sense

Photo Credit: The Icehouse

Photo Credit: Stormwater Magazine, May 2014 and The Icehouse

The May 2014 Issue of Stormwater Magazine contains an excellent article on page 44 entitled “Exploring New Partners to Green Our Urban Landscapes.”  The article describes how incorporating green infrastructure (GI) into site development can yield a return on investment.  Some of the examples cited in the article include:

  • The visual amenity afforded by a green roof incorporated into an apartment complex in Boylston MA resulted in an increase in rent of between $300 and $500 a month for those units that overlooked the green roof.
  • the DECREASE in the amount of frost heave in porous pavements in Chicago, IL when compared with conventional paved surfaces has resulted in a longer lifespan for the installations making porous pavement the lower cost alternative.
  • green roofs double the lifespan of conventional roofs thus incurring savings in roof replacement dollars over a 40 year lifespan.

These examples don’t even consider the possible benefits available through various subsidies for such technology nor consider the relative offset in costs where regulations or ordinances would require stormwater management, whether through GI or conventional measures anyway.  More detailed information is contained NRDC’s 2013 report “The Green Edge: How Commercial Property Investment in Green Infrastructure Creates Value” discussed in our January 31, 2014 blog post.

Onondaga Tower Extensive Green Roof Design Completed!

We completed the design for an extensive green roof for the Onondaga Tower building (former HSBC building) located in downtown Syracuse.  The project is currently being bid and construction is expected to begin this Spring!

New Green Roof Design Begun

Natural Systems Engineering has been retained by Zip Networks Inc. to design an extensive green roof for the former Inland Supply Building located on Wilkinson Street in Syracuse.  The structural evaluation and design services were initiated in March 2014.   Project completion scheduled for mid-Summer 2014.

Green Infrastructure Creates Value!

Check out NSE’s blog post on Syracuse Urban Properties.  We provide a local pictorial perspective on the recent NRDC report “The Green Edge: How Commercial Property Investment in Green Infrastructure Creates Value.” 

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Green Roof Completed at Graham Millworks

Construction of an extensive green roof at the Graham Millworks facility at 176 Richmond Avenue, Syracuse, New York was completed on October 28, 2013.  The green roof was designed by Natural Systems Engineering, PLLC and was funded by Onondaga County’s “Save the Rain” program.

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