UNION SQUARE CONDOMINIUM

 

This massive, 17,000 square foot green roof atop Beth Israel Hospital in Manhattan's Union Square vicinity, is a welcome addition for tenants who live in the four Zeckendorf residential towers surrounding the site.  Considered to be one of the city’s most important projects of the 1980’s condo boom, the building was a frontier to the revitalization of Union Square Park in the 1980s.  Keeping up with cutting edge development, owners decided to place a green roof on top of a new waterproofing system in the courtyard when it was time to replace the original membrane.  Upon completion of this project in October 2010, unit owners were able to take advantage of a significant tax abatement incentive available from the city of New York’s plaNYC to help cover the cost of installation.  Soil depths range from 1”-24” and allow for a rich planting palette that includes shrubs, herbaceous perennials, trees, and a succulent groundcover mix inoculated with mosses. Along with an incredible 170 cubic yards of growing media, these plants act to mitigate storm water-related issues, reduce energy and maintenance costs by protecting the waterproofing from excessive sun exposure and increased heat retention, while beautifying and increasing property values.