DCD - Seattle

Publish Date: November 1, 2006

Lushly planted green roofs that change color with the season are the centerpieces of two new buildings in downtown Seattle. The roofs provide not only a distinctive design feature for the buildings but also important environmental and economic benefits for the city of Seattle.

The Justice Center’s 8,500 square-foot garden roof was completed in 2002. From the very beginning, sustainability was a top design criterion, says Knut Hansen, senior associate for project architect NBBJ Design. The design features an intricate planting design guided by an image of sunlight reflected in a shallow streambed. But not only is the design visually appealing, the plants on the roof retain moisture and reduces the amount of stormwater entering the city’s storm sewer system.

Recent Press

  • October 1, 2020
    A new landmark sits just west of the global tourist attraction, the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada. A 1.8 million sq.ft., 65,000-seat domed stadium, costing nearly $2 billion is the new home of the Las Vegas Raiders. Southern Nevada residents, as well as...
  • November 26, 2019
    Palo Alto, CA. (November 26, 2019) There are many reasons to incorporate a green or living roof into a design, including energy conservation, water management, and financial benefits. For one project in Palo Alto, California, the benefits of having...