16 March/April 2012

green walls & roofs

M
any colleges and universities in
America are known for the beauty
of their campuses. In the Western
United States, the campus of Soka Univer-
sity is one of the most picturesque.
A private, four-year liberal arts college
and graduate school, Soka University is
located in the City of Aliso Viejo in
Orange County, California. Its scenic 103-
acre campus enjoys an intimate relation-
ship with nature. The 4,000-acre Aliso
and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park sur-
rounds Soka University on 85 percent of
its border. The campus is adjacent to Aliso
Creek, which reaches the Pacific Ocean at
Green Roof Provides the
Solution for Soka University
More than 96,000 Square Feet of New
Construction and No Increase in Stormwater Runof
aliso Canyon: ecologically sensitive wilderness area (Photo credit: soka University).
www.landandwater.com 17
green walls & roofs
Laguna Beach, only about one mile to the
west. The area is both beautiful and eco-
logically sensitive.
Soka University is within the Wood
Canyon Watershed and the Moulton
Niguel Water District (MNWD). Te
stormwater management requirements of
the City of Aliso Viejo were enacted to
protect the watershed. MNWD governs
the use of water within its service area, and
has established policies to protect the wa-
ter supply, a scarce resource in Southern
California. Tese requirements and poli-
cies played a central role in the design and
construction of the new 47,836 square-
foot Soka Performing Arts Center at the
university. Designed by ZGF Architects
LLP, the project also included an adjacent
48,974-square-foot Academic Building.
Te City of Aliso Viejo mandates no
net increase in runof for new development
projects. Tus, the basic challenge was add-
ing more than 96,000 square feet of new
construction on 1.9 acres without
creating additional stormwater
runof.
Green Roof Required
In consultation with the Citys plan-
ning and engineering departments and
Soka Universitys project managers, ZGF
investigated and presented a range of pos-
sible solutions, including bioswales and
retention basins. However, it was evident
from the beginning of the planning process
that a green roof would be essential to con-
trol stormwater runof and meet the Citys
requirements.
Indeed, given the magnitude of the
challenge, a large green roof was indispens-
able. Te project plan included a total of
14,800 square feet of custom-designed
green roof, with 10,000 square feet on the
Soka Performing Arts Center and the bal-
ance on the Academic Building.
A green roof for the Center had to
meet an extensive set of requirements:
Customized plant selection appropri-
ate for the arid Southern California
climate
Suitability for the specifc microclimate
of the campus with near-constant
wind conditions in a dry, windy can-
yon
Low-profle plants that would not grow
above the roof s parapets
Long-term sustainability and trouble-
free maintenance
Drought tolerance to minimize irriga-
tion requirements
Tolerance of the chemical content in
the reclaimed water to be used for ir-
rigation
Shade tolerance because of the shadows
cast by the solar panels on the roof
green roof and solar panels on the soka Performing arts Center (Photo
credit: nick Merrick at Hedrich Blessing). Inset: founders Hall and soka
Performing arts Center (Photo credit: Mitsu Kimura).
green walls & roofs
18 March/April 2012
Local Horticultural Expertise Essential
Given these requirements, local ex-
pertise in plant biology and green roof
installation were critical to the projects
success. LiveRoof, LLC is a national green
roof company that maintains a network of
licensed regional growers who bring local
horticultural knowledge and experience
to every project. Representing the com-
pany in California are Native Sons, Inc.,
a wholesale nursery that produces plants
from Mediterranean regions of the world
as well as California natives, and Flora-
source Ltd., an independent plant broker-
age frm that supplies the design, landscape
and construction trades with applied horti-
cultural products. Tey selected and grew
the plants for the LiveRoof

Hybrid Green
Roof System and oversaw its installation at
Soka University.
Tey formulated a customized all-
Sedum plant mix with fve varieties chosen
specifcally for the project. Tom Hawkins,
president of Florasource, explained that all
the selected plants utilize crassulacean acid
metabolism (CAM) photosynthesis. CAM
plants are up to ten times more water ef-
fcient than non-CAM plants because their
stomates (pores) stay closed during the hot-
test, most windy daytime hours and open
at night to collect carbon dioxide.
Te proper planting medium for green
roofs has a high percentage of inorganic
content. LiveRoof growers adapt the stan-
dard planting medium for each installation
based upon climate, water quality, andre-
gionally available materials. For example,
the inorganic content in much of the U.S.
is achieved with shale. However, shale is
rare and expensive in California. Terefore,
for the Soka University project, volcanic
pumice was incorporated for its inorganic
content because it is more plentiful, locally
available, and less costly.
liveroof modules. (Photo credit: liveroof, llC).
Wetland & Ecological Restoration
Bioengineering Materials
Storm & Wastewater Management
Native Perennials & Ferns
Native Trees & Shrubs
Native & Ornamental Grasses
Drought & Heat Tolerant Plants
Toll Free (866)814-9118
Fax (706)658-2347
sales@bakerenvironmentalnursery.com
www.bakerenvironmentalnursery.com
Freeport, NY - Tel 516.379.4232 Garden Grove, CA - Tel 714.891.2358
www.covefour.com info@covefour.com
Sod staples and mulch
pins, galvanized and bright
basic wire.
Pins with washers, variable
lengths.
Wire diameters: 8 gauge
thru 18 gauge.
Square or round head,
chisel point or blunted end.
Tubing stakes, plastic coated
or bright basic wire.
WIRE FORMS
from .007 to .437 wire diameter
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welding, nishing, packaging, etc.
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Erosion Ad 3.5x4.5-cmyk.indd 1 3/15/12 7:36 AM
Te Irrigation Issue
Although proper plant selection may
preclude the need for irrigation of green
roofs in many parts of the U.S., the climate
in California requires it. MNWD provides
both potable and reclaimed water to the
Soka University campus and requires that
only reclaimed water may be used for all
irrigation.
Te City and MNWD had to review
and approve the method to bring reclaimed
water up onto the roof of the buildings for
irrigating the green roof. Tey would not
approve running the reclaimed water lines
inside the buildings in order to prevent
any possibility of contamination of potable
water with reclaimed water. ZGF devised
an architectural solution: routing the re-
claimed water lines up the exterior of the
buildings concealed in faux downspouts.
With the irrigation issue resolved, the
installation could proceed. The modules
were delivered to the site abundantly pre-
vegetated with regionally adapted, locally
cultivated plants. The plants were full-
grown, thriving and ready for the rigors of
the rooftop environment.
Installation and Maintenance
All buildings, whether topped by a
green roof or a traditional roof, need be
waterproofed to protect against leaks and
water damage. To provide additional pro-
tection during installation and the entire
life of the roof, the modules were placed
on a slip sheet, which rests directly on the
roof s waterproof membrane. Te design
of LiveRoof modules prevents excess water
from being trapped and allows it to travel
unimpeded to roof drains.
19 www.landandwater.com
green walls & roofs
The City of Aliso Viejo
mandates no net
increase in runoff for new
development projects.
Thus, the basic challenge
was adding more than
96,000 square feet of
new construction on 1.9
acres without creating
additional stormwater
runoff.
Untitled-3 1 1/24/12 11:33 AM
green walls & roofs
20 March/April 2012
Wind and birds introduce weed seeds
to any green roof. However, the complete
coverage of the pre-vegetated modules pro-
vides little opportunity for weeds to get es-
tablished, as long as regular maintenance is
performed. Maintenance is minimal for the
Performing Arts Centers green roof areas:
about 15-20 minutes every two weeks to
pull a few weeds that might have infltrat-
ed, check irrigation coverage, and inspect
the roof drains. Te growing medium is
tested each spring, and the roof receives an
application of controlled-release fertilizer,
if necessary.
Today, eighteen months after instal-
lation, the green roof looks beautiful and
has performed well. Storm water fows have
been curtailed, even during the especially
wet winter of 2010. L&W
by Kimberly Kilgour, ZGF Ar-
chitects LLP
For more information contact Kimberly
Kilgour, AIA, LEED AP, Associate in the Los
Angeles ofce of ZGF Architects LLP, e-mail:
kimberly.kilgour@zgf.com.
soka University bordered by the aliso and wood Canyons wilderness area (Photo
Credit: Mitsu Kimura).