Rene, You are wise to be wary of a green roof over exhibition and collection storage areas. Having said that, I would not strike the possibility of having a green roof somewhere on your new building. There are two basic green roof types, extensive - low weight mats that provide a growing medium for grasses and groundcovers, and intensive - multiple inches of soil for conventional planting. Green roofs can be energy saving as well as providing additional environmental benefits. Rather than going into this, I'll include some websites here that have some good information. http://hortweb.cas.psu.edu/research/greenroofcenter/index.html http://www.greenroofs.com/ Perhaps you could check in with the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center in Ledyard, CT and ask them to share their experience. http://nemo.uconn.edu/reducing_runoff/case_studies/green_roof_cs.htm Mike >Date: Tue, 25 May 2004 15:57:13 -0700 >From: Rene Legler <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Consequences of a "Living Roof" on new museum > >List Members: > >Thanks to those who responded to my bus insurance query several weeks ago! > >I have another request: > >We are combining with several "partners" to create a new visitor >center/museum and all the other partners (and the architects) want a living >roof (sod) for it energy efficiency, etc. (and maybe that it would just be >"cool"). My museum's representatives are saying "no" because of RH levels, >leaks, the fact of having a continuous source of water over the entire >building where artifacts and exhibits will be on display, etc. I was >hoping many of you could contribute reasons FOR having a living roof and >FOR NOT having a living roof on a MUSEUM (perhaps some contacts with >museums that have living roofs), so we can present a well rounded critique >of everyone else's decision before the building is actually built. Are >their consequences for future AAM accreditation, acquiring traveling >exhibits, having objects loaned from other museums? > >All responses are appreciated. > >Rene Legler >Registrar >CREHST Museum >Richland, WA >[log in to unmask] -- ***************************************************************** Michael McHugh, AIA LEED Accredited Professional E. Verner Johnson and Associates Museum Architects and Planners 222 Berkeley Street, Suite 1350 Boston, MA 02116 tel: 617-437-6262 fax: 617-437-1272 http://www.vernerjohnson.com ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).