PACIFIC GARDEN MISSION

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ARLINGTON COUNTY | PACIFIC GARDEN MISSION

Pacific Garden Mission - Chicago Ill.

Viridian Systems played an integral role in the development of a green roof for the largest continuously operating homeless shelter in the United States. The new Pacific Garden Mission, designed to achieve Silver Certification under the LEED Green Building Rating System™, houses up to 1,000 men and women a night and serves 180,000 meals a month. The project offers proof that sustainable, environmentally healthy development is viable in nearly any setting for any population.

Viridian Systems was chosen by the Pacific Garden Mission to integrate its premium cool roof system into the LEED certified project based on its highperformance design and a corporate commitment to the mission to provide the best roof system value possible. Considered a “Friend of the Mission,” Viridian Systems provided a roof system option that satisfied the reflective properties, multi-ply redundancy and budget requirements necessary to achieve the mission’s goals.

The original specifications for the rooftop included two possible roofing systems: a black EPDM roof or a two ply modified bitumen membrane. Both types of roofs could have met LEED requirements through the application of a white coating, requiring long-term maintenance for the mission. Ultimately, the decision was made to go with a more durable, lower maintenance and sustainable construction, recommended by Viridian Systems’ professionals.

The mission’s 16,000-square-foot vegetative roof incorporates a solar-reflective membrane and vegetative grids, which facilitate significant ecological benefits. Viridian Systems provided a combination of gravel surfaced and HK 5001 surfaced BUR membranes. The HK 5001 membrane provided the solar reflectivity and emissivity necessary to support the mission’s goal to achieve LEED® certification. The reflective white membrane was used to frame the large vegetative areas of the roof and defend against solar heat build-up. The gravel surfacing was used to protect the roof from UV damage and physical damage under the vegetative grids and between them, which created secure walkways for employees tending the roof’s vegetation. The combination of these materials offered the mission a sustainable solution that is environmentally responsible and offers excellent impact and tear resistance.

The roofing system incorporates the best available technology for both traditional and green roofs. The roof was installed with the redundancy of a four-ply built-up membrane under the reflective membrane. The multiple layers were composed of premium fiberglass ply sheets adhered with asphalt interply adhesive featuring 150 percent elongation properties.

Today, the mission’s green roof is an efficient ecological system providing energy savings and 25 percent reduction in stormwater run-off. Demands on the city’s aging stormwater management system are also lessened by the plantings and soil media. The vegetative layer protects the roofing membrane from destructive UV rays and increases the overall roof life, reducing the frequency of tear-off, which consumes landfill space with construction debris. The vegetation requires no watering because the variety of plants selected go dormant during dry spells. In addition to its environmental and economical benefits, the vegetative roof will provide an aesthetically pleasing oasis in its urban surroundings.

Viridian Systems is a leading provider of quality roofing and building preservation, alternative energy, HVAC, and remote energy management solutions designed for sustainability, maximum life cycles and operational effectiveness. Backed by decades of experience, Viridian applies a unique performanceoriented approach to identify problems and provide the best solution to meet clients’ needs. Many Viridian products are environmentally preferable and carry Energy Star® ratings, Cool Roof Rating Council ratings and can contribute to achieving LEED® certification. Viridian Systems is the industry benchmark for service excellence, delivering world-class Sustainable Solutions Built for Life.

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