Ann Arbor, Michigan

In 2009 WH Canon teamed with Schreiber Corporation to install the green roof at the new C.S. Mott Children’s and Women’s Hospital on the campus of the University of Michigan. The green roof is located on the top level of the hospital and is over 1.5 acres.

During construction WH Canon utilized the two tower cranes to hoist the nearly 900 cubic yards of growing media to the roof two yards at a time. The cranes were used by many other contractors often requiring hoisting soil late in the evening to accommodate the schedule.

Once the soil, stone firebreaks and 2’x2′ pavers were installed the planting began. With over 135,000 sedum plugs two crews worked several weeks to install the entire roof. With rain as the only source of water, the plantings are well adapted to the harsh environment and assist in reducing the urban heat island effect often found in cities.

  • Project Team:  Barton Malow Company, Schreiber Corporation, WH Canon Landscape Company
  • Main characteristic of the project: Green roof
  • Challenges of the project: Five acres of green roof containing 900 cubic yards of growing medium.
  • How we made it work: The project required high output production planning and execution to install five acres of plant material. WH Canon worked closely with the designers for the choice of plant material appropriate for the harsh site conditions. Large expanse transformed from an impervious heat sink into environmentally friendly green spaces.

The new “green roof” on C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital filters rainfall as part of a natural storm-water management system. Planted with sedum, a drought-resistant perennial groundcover, the living roof helps insulate the building and reduce energy loss and contributes to overall air quality. Because the new hospital is built on what was previously a parking lot, the green roof essentially reduces the amount of paved surfaces on campus. The eco-friendly roof is also expected to last twice as long as a conventional roof.