South Bronx Community Development Center Installs Green Roof
Xero Flor America (XFA) announced the selection of the Xero Flor Green Roof System for a new 7,350-sq-ft green roof installed atop the main facility of The Point Community Development Corp. Xero Flor America, Durham, N.C., is the official and exclusive distributor in the U.S. of the Xero Flor Green Roof System. The Point Community Development Corp. is a non-profit organization that promotes the cultural and economic revitalization of the Hunts Point section of the South Bronx in New York, N.Y.
The project, which included repair of the structural roof and a new waterproof roof membrane as well as the green roof, was supported with funding from the New York State Office of the Attorney General and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
“The green roof symbolizes our commitment to sustainability and our dedication to improving the environment of the community,” said Maria Torres, president and CEO of The Point Community Development Corp. “Our green roof project includes a special section that serves as an outdoor classroom for environmental education.”
“The green roof will have important environmental benefits for the community,” said Clayton Rugh, Ph.D., general manager and technical director of XFA. “With the area’s average annual rainfall of about 45 to 50 in., the Xero Flor option installed at The Point will reduce storm water runoff by more than 150,000 gal annually. That will help alleviate flooding in The Point’s courtyard and improve water quality in the Bronx River.”
“We recommended the Xero Flor Green Roof System because it is lightweight, simple to install, and easy to maintain. With Xero Flor, sections of the green roof can be rolled back, if necessary, to access the structural roof for inspection or repair,” said Amy Falder, partner, New York Green Roofs, LLC, the local green roof service firm that designed and installed the green roof at The Point. “We have used the system in previous projects and were confident in its performance.”
For the main 7,350-sq-ft extensive green roof, New York Green Roofs recommended and installed the Xero Flor XF301+2FL system option, which is 2.5 in. in depth and weighs 10 to 11 pounds per sq ft when fully saturated with rainwater. Minimizing the weight of the green roof was a key consideration in project planning. New York Green Roofs also designed and installed a 650-sq-ft customized semi-intensive green roof (4 to 6 in. deep) on a separate roof section over a lower addition on the building. It will be used for The Point’s outdoor environmental classroom.
The Point Community Development Corp. is planning to hold a community celebration to showcase the green roof. Details will be announced in July.
