New South Bronx Community Green Roof to Benefit Local Environment

Xero Flor America (XFA) of Durham, N.C., announced the selection of its XeroFlor Green Roof System for a new 7,350-square-foot green roof installed atop the main facility of The Point Community Development Corporation (The Point), a non-profit organization that promotes the cultural and economic revitalization of the Hunts Point section of the South Bronx in New York.

The project, which included repair of the structural roof and a new waterproof roof membrane as well as the green roof, was supported by funding from the New York State Office of the Attorney General and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

“The green roof symbolizes our commitment to sustainability and our dedication to improving the environment of the community,” said Maria Torres, president and chief executive officer, The Point. “Our green roof project includes a special section that serves as an outdoor classroom for environmental education.”

“The green roof will have important environmental benefits for the community,” said Clayton Rugh, Ph.D., general manager and technical director, XFA. “With the area’s average annual rainfall of about 45-50 inches, the Xero Flor option installed at The Point will reduce stormwater runoff by more than 150,000 gallons annually. That will help alleviate flooding in The Point’s courtyard and improve water quality in the Bronx River.”

“We recommended the Xero Flor Green Roof System because it is lightweight, simple to install and easy to maintain. With Xero Flor, sections of the green roof can be rolled back, if necessary, to access the structural roof for inspection or repair,” said Amy Falder, partner at New York Green Roofs LLC, the local green roof service firm that designed and installed the green roof. “We have used the system in previous projects and were confident in its performance.”

For the main 7,350-square-foot extensive green roof, New York Green Roofs recommended and installed the Xero Flor XF301+2FL system option, which is 2.5 inches in depth and weighs only 10-11 pounds per square foot when fully saturated with rainwater. Minimizing the weight of the green roof was a key consideration in project planning. New York Green Roofs also designed and installed a 650-square-foot customized, semi-intensive green roof (4-6 inches deep) on a separate roof section over a lower addition on the building. It will be used for The Point’s outdoor environmental classroom.

The Point is planning to hold a community celebration to showcase the green roof. Details will be announced in July. 

For more information, visit www.xeroflora.com, www.thepoint.org or www.newyorkgreenroofs.com.