The 2.3 acre, extensive GreenGrid® roof was placed atop a significant portion of the new Court at Upper Providence shopping center in Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. “The Court,” a joint venture of two Montgomery County based developers, Gambone Development, Inc. and The Highland Development Group, Ltd., is a new 400,000-square-foot retail center designed by Architectural Concepts, LLP. Store anchors include six major national retailers.

According to Patrick G. McCann, WESTON Chairman, CEO and President, “We are proud to be associated with this development so close to our corporate home in West Chester, PA. It is a compelling demonstration of how we can work together to provide sustainable solutions for our communities.”

Project developers were committed to using a green roof system to minimize the stormwater runoff and associated impacts on the surrounding watershed from these buildings. Occupants will also benefit from potential energy savings during hot summer months when the GreenGrid® system keeps the roof cooler than exposed roof surface.

The GreenGrid® modules, composed of recycled plastic were pre-planted with lightweight, engineered soil media and drought-tolerant vegetation including sedums and other small but hardy plants in early summer 2007. When the modules were delivered this fall, an instant green roof topped the plaza.

Water Retention Issues “This green roof installation is an integral part of the project’s stormwater Best Management Practices and a key low-impact development strategy” says Jared Markham, Project Manager with WESTON and GreenGrid®. “When the green roof is completed, it will both retain and detain significant amounts of rainwater year round.”

Many cities are encouraging developers to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff that follows a major rain event. As stormwater drains from buildings, streets, and parking lots, it typically does not infiltrate into the ground. Instead it becomes sheet flow that is eventually piped into a storm sewer system. Unfortunately, many cities rely on combined sanitary and storm sewer infrastructure that quickly becomes overwhelmed during even relatively minor rain events. As a result, already stressed collection and treatment facilities must release contaminated water directly into local waterways because they are unable to handle the increased flows.

“We believe the benefits of adding a green roof to this large a project far outweighs the additional costs. We are not speaking of economic benefits, but of environmental benefits to our county: reducing stormwater runoff from the site, adding plant life and their beneficial air quality impact, and reducing the energy used by the retailers,” added Fred Levin, of The Highland Development Group, Ltd. and Joseph Gambone, Jr., of Gambone Development, Inc.

About GreenGrid® Green Roof System GreenGrid® Green Roof System is a proprietary technology of ABC Supply Co., Inc. licensed exclusively in the United States to Weston Solutions, Inc. (WESTON®). Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, WESTON delivers integrated, sustainable solutions for environmental restoration, property redevelopment, design/build construction, green buildings and clean energy. WESTON is dedicated to making a difference in the world, with 1,800 employees in 60 offices around the globe building strong stakeholder relationships and solutions that work.

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