Terra Roofs

Enhance the environment and your investment simultaneously. Eco-friendly terra roofs are far more than just a hip trend at Terra Dynamics. They can provide cooling, reduce a building’s energy consumption, absorb greenhouse gasses, increase natural habitat and provide much-needed greenspace for urban dwellers. For those reasons and more, we’ve been designing and installing them for decades.

There’s a long list of important considerations for terra roof installations, so it pays to hire a contractor with experience and knowledge of LEED-certified building practices. Structural integrity, code compliance and growing media entail a complex decision-making process. Considerations for moisture, runoff, drainage, insulation, access and weight cannot be underestimated either.

Featured Terra Roofs

The University of Washington Terry and Maple Halls. Seattle, Washington
Image license: Mithun Inc., UW, Coughlin Porter Lundeen, Jill Cody (dark/light) and Travis, Fitzmaurice & Associates.
© Copyright 2015 Benjamin Benschneider All Rights Reserved. Usage may be arranged by contacting Benjamin Benschneider Photography. Email: bbenschneider@comcast.net or phone: 206-789-5973.

UW Terry + Maple Halls

University of Washington

2016 (6 month project)

UW Campus, Seattle WA

Mercer Hall, aka Mercer Court Apartments, is a LEED Gold certified, five building complex in the West Campus of the Univeristy of Washington. It is the first of a four-phase student housing initiative planned by the University to meet a resounding need for additional housing. The upper levels are occupied by students and the ground level is occupied by Housing and Food Services Program offices. The architecture of the buildings allowed for a unique opportunity to integrate an urban farm as part of the housing and food services program. Within the terraced slopes of the UW Farm, the landscape design weaves through the terraces as three bands with distinct character. One band, following the Gilman Burke- Trail, features shade and woodland plantings. At the Mid-level, the Horizon Plaza Band ties together a series of courtyards and gathering spaces. At the base of the slope, the Urban Agriculture Band encompasses the UW Farm that is run by volunteers.

UW MERCER HALL / COURT FARMING ROOF

UW / W.G. Clarke

2013

University of Washington, Seattle

Mercer Hall was a complex project in a tight urban space, involving specialty soils and over-structure landscaping, Terra Dynamics’ focus included the Farming Roof—the urban farm over a garage structure, landscaping, hardscape, terraced wall construction, and irrigation. All materials had to hoisted on the structure via telebelt and crane, including over 2,000 cubic yards of topsoil. (photos/ site plan courtesy GGN)

Female gardener tending to organic crops at community garden and picking up a bountiful basket full of fresh produce

Rooftop garden, Rooftop vegetable garden, Growing vegetables on

Green roof covered with sedum, predominantly green but with some red, yellow and purple flowers.

Avalon Bay

Avalon Bay Condominiums

2016

University District, Seattle

This project was completed for a private luxury condominium complex and included landscape, irrigation construction, and green roofs on each tower.

With this project, TDI successfully managed and overcame many organization and coordination challenges. All materials for this project were hoisted via crane, and TDI design and utilized a system of conveyor belts to transport bulk material across the structure.

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