Louisville Metro’s first green roof is being constructed atop the Metro Development Center (MDC), 444 S. 5^th St., which serves as a one-stop shop for Louisville’s developers, builders and contractors. The six-story building was originally built in the early 1900's as a parking garage, and it was converted it to an office building in the 1980's.

In addition to its central downtown location, MDC was chosen to receive the first green roof for a very basic reason – the roof needed repairs! It was also determined to have a suitable load-bearing structure. About 11,000 square feet will be available for planting, excluding a 1,200-square-foot “penthouse”, which houses various mechanical systems. Although the penthouse roof will not be planted, it will receive a special Energy Star-certified coating.

The firm of Luckett & Farley was chosen in Fall, 2007 to design and oversee the green roof project. A design was selected and construction will begin in May, 2008. The installation and planting will be complete by fall, at an estimated cost of $400,000 for the construction and planting.

An “extensive” style roof was dictated by the roof structure analysis, which established limits for the weight of the green roof materials.

To keep the roof as maintenance-free as possible, native plants will be widely used, including a variety of drought-resistant sedums. Planters with small trees will be located over structural support columns. Metro Landscape personnel will provide periodic seasonal maintenance. An irrigation system is being installed as part of the roof.

The new green roof will provide many environmental benefits. It will provide insulation value, and the energy value will be tracked through Portfolio Manager monitoring software. Storm water run-off is expected to be reduced by up to 50%. The roof will contribute to urban heat island mitigation, improved air quality, and added habitat for insects and birds. Last but not least, the green roof will provide a model to remind the community to Go Green, Louisville!