Evergreen's Seminar II Building Recognized for "Green" Roof

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Already a veteran in the world of environmental architecture awards, Evergreen’s Seminar II building, known locally as “Sem II,” is receiving yet more recognition for its leading edge design. The Green Roofs for Healthy Cities recently awarded Sem II’s roof developer, The Garland Company, Inc., of Cleveland, with the 2005 Green Roof Award of Excellence in the Extensive Institutional category.

Garland is a leading U.S. manufacturer and worldwide distributor of high-performance roofing and building maintenance systems. The environmental design minimizes the roof’s exposure to heat and ultraviolet rays that can prematurely age roofing materials. The roof, which is covered with various low growing plant life, is expected to last more than 30 years, due to its sustainable attributes. The plant-growing medium was Garland’s Oasis lightweight media mixture and the vegetation includes sedums and up to 33 various perennial flowering species. In addition, all rainwater filters through the green roof system and overflows into a 20,000-gallon reservoir designed to slowly release water back into the local environment. The process significantly reduces the size of storm water retention ponds needed for the building.

The award-winning roof project was designed to reflect the progressive mission of The Evergreen State College and exemplify one of its core values, environmental sustainability. Green Roofs for Healthy Cities North America Inc. is a nonprofit industry association. The Green Roof Awards of Excellence were established in 2003 to recognize green roof projects that exhibit extraordinary leadership in integrated design and implementation.