Gary Comer Youth Center (Green Roof)

Special Recognition

  • John Ronan Architects
  • Comer Science and Education Foundation
  • Consultants Arup (Structural); Peter Lindsay Schaudt Landscape Architecture
  • Division Institutional
  • Location Chicago, IL
  • General contractor W.E. O'Neil Construction

Photos

(Click each for a larger version)

Gary Comer Youth Center (Green Roof) photo #1
Photo: Steve Hall, Hedrich Blessing
Gary Comer Youth Center (Green Roof) photo #2
Photo: Steve Hall, Hedrich Blessing
Gary Comer Youth Center (Green Roof) photo #3
Photo: Steve Hall, Hedrich Blessing

Overview

Amid a large number of green-roof entries, this one stood out as "exceptional," jurors said. The roof garden is not only there to reduce climate-control costs, but as an outdoor classroom within the center's youth horticulture and environmental awareness programs. In soil 24 inches deep, children can grow vegetables, flowers, herbs and other plants; vegetables grown here are harvested for use in cooking classes downstairs. The space is "beautiful and usable," jurors said.