Taking Green to New Heights
The new Aztec Student Union will be home to a rooftop garden with a purpose.
The new Student Union at San Diego State University is taking the concept of “going green” to new heights with the installation of a green roof.
The LiveRoof Green Roof System was installed by Florasource Limited and covers a 1,382 square-foot space on the roof adjacent to the building’s dome which will soon be a campus icon.
“The new Aztec Student Union was envisioned from its earliest planning stages as an exemplar of the most rigorous standards in environmentally sensitive design and construction,” said Robert Schulz, university architect and associate vice president of Operations.
“The roof of the new union is outfitted with highly reflective roofing materials to reduce heat load; photovoltaic panels that generate a portion of the building's electrical needs; and a rooftop garden that both slows runoff from the roof and tempers the space underneath from external temperature swings,” Schulz continued.
The green roof is just one of the energy conservation features designed into the Student Union with the goal of reaching LEED Platinum certification, the highest rating for green buildings given by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Unique roof top
“This rooftop is unique," said Tom Hawkins, owner of Florasource and the Southern California representative of LiveRoof. "All of the storm water runoff, including from the green roof area, will be directed to three large 50,000-gallon tanks resting below the inner courtyard at ground level . This water will be stored for reuse in the landscape, including irrigation of the green roof as needed,”
The plants for the green roof are flowering succulents chosen specifically for their resistance to the harsh conditions a rooftop in San Diego will face.
Though the roof will be closed during normal operating hours, guests will be able to enjoy the garden during special events and activities held at the union.
New home for Aztecs
SDSU will “Welcome Home” the Aztec community with the grand opening of the Aztec Student Union on March 7, 2014. The 206,000 square-foot “campus living room” will be the site for special events during The Grand Dedication Week March 3 through 8.
