Mission:

Fostering the regional dialogue for encouraging green roof policy; forwarding the design, construction and performance of green roofs in Colorado; and to bring together parties united for the green roof cause.

‘Green Roofs for the West’ Symposium
Thursday, June 17, 2010
8 a.m. – 5 p.m. @ Denver Botanic Gardens
*Register by May 15 and receive $25 off your registration fee!*

This forward-thinking and informative event – co-hosted by the Gardens, U.S. Green Building Council and Colorado State University – will spotlight the innovative ways green roofs are leading us to a future of more sustainable cities in the challenging climate of the West. The symposium will feature a full day of in-depth sessions, presented by leading green roof experts and designers from across the U.S. and around the world. The event also delves beneath the surface to inform professionals about green roof viability and implications in the West, and lay the groundwork to influence policy in Denver and the Intermountain West. More information on speakers and registration will be posted in the coming months – stay tuned! Registration is limited, so sign up early. Before June 1: $100; after June 1: $125. $30 for students with valid ID. Includes continental breakfast, box lunch and beverages.

Denver Botanic Gardens, an urban oasis, is an ideal setting for a green roof symposium. Many of our collections represent hardy, drought tolerant plants well adapted to green roof applications. The Gardens’ own green roof, installed in November 2007, serves as a test site for a new palette of plants for green roofs in the American west. The green roof will be open throughout the day for tours.

What is Green Roofing?

Basically, greenroofs are vegetated roof covers, with growing media and plants taking the place of bare membrane, gravel ballast, shingles or tiles. The number of layers and the layer placement vary from system to system and greenroof type, but at the very least all greenroofs include a single to multi-ply waterproofing layer, drainage, growing media and the plants, covering the entire roof deck surface. There are two main types of greenroofs – extensive or intensive - although a greenroof is often designed with features of both and then are referred to as either semi-extensive or semi-intensive.

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