Next Generation Design Competition

The Bronx is Burgeoning

June 25, 2008

By Daniela Morell

This June students and teachers unveiled a prototype for Learning Landscape at the Adlai Stevenson campus in the Bronx. The 16 x 16 foot plot offers a taste of what the full 20,000 square foot green roof being designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects (RVA) and 2005 Next Generation winner Joseph Hagerman will be like when it’s done.

While the final green roof will be hooked up with enough sensors to provide a scientific gold mine of data for studying its urban climate effects, today’s more modest version has a predominantly social appeal. “This is just one stage along the way,” explained Ned Kaufman, RVA’s Director of Research and Training for the project.

“What we’re trying to do here is partly cultural and political,” Kaufman added. “We’re trying to show the School Construction Authority that it’s possible, in fact fairly easy and cost effective, to put green roofs on many of their old school buildings which they’ve basically written off in terms of environmental performance. We’re looking at 1970s concrete buildings that nobody has any love for really. But they are full of students and teachers, and they have to get re-roofed every once in a while.”

The other benefit of course is for the students themselves who now have a chance to work outside and learn about nature. Rooftop gardening in schools is a growing trend and is sure to be an eye opener for students in a heavily built up urban area surrounded by multiple highways and a flight path.