South Baltimore Station
Located in the historic Federal Hill area, South Baltimore Station and its new addition serve as a rehabilitation center for those suffering with chemical dependency. While the client and architect chose a program to serve resident needs, they also had an interest in sustainable technology. FTLA designed a green roof for the Station’s new addition that addressed this issue. Beauty, community enhancement, and economic savings followed.
Green roofs save money and this one is no exception. Because the rooms under the roof are better insulated than those under a conventional roof, heating and air-conditioning costs have gone down. Meanwhile, the roof’s heat-tolerant plants, a variety of sedum, eliminate the need for added roof maintenance.
Neighbors of the facility will not be disappointed either. Those who have roof decks will look out and see that the garden has been planted creatively. Sedum comes in a variety of colors and textures, and FTLA arranged several varieties into a puzzle pattern of pinks and purples with a mixture of flowering species. The arrangement gives visual and textural interest for those with a view to enjoy it.
Perhaps most important, the roof will be good for the greater Baltimore region. The rooftop at South Baltimore Station was designed specifically to meet Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Stormwater requirements. Unlike conventional buildings in which stormwater runs directly into the city’s drainage system, the South Baltimore Station green roof all but eliminates the need for such drainage. It filters rainwater and prevents the water from running over an asphalt or petroleum-based roof product. The roof also prevents storm water from outing into city streets and picking up added pollutants. That’s good for Baltimore and good for the Bay.
This project is currently under construction.