2022’s Innovative Leadership in Green Infrastructure
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Introduction
Here are the highlights of award winning leaders from our Jeffery L. Bruce & Associates Awards of Excellence, presented at CitiesAlive Homecoming in the fall of 2022. These individuals and firms have all been innovative pioneers in the development of the green roof and wall industry in North America and in some cases around the world.
Individual Awards
Research Award
Dr. Olyssa Starry; Portland State University
Dr. Olyssa Starry is an Assistant Professor at Portland State University. Olyssa has published over 30 publications contributing to the development of knowledge of green roofs, particularly in her area of stormwater nitrification, vegetation, biodiversity and urban ecology. Over the years, Olyssa has worked alongside many leaders in the green roof industry, and over time has become established in her development and understanding of how green roofs benefit urban ecology.
Civic Award
Mona Das; Washington State Senate
This year's award is presented to Washington State Senator Mona Das. Senator Das introduced a bill into the State Senate in Washington which, if implemented, would have required mandatory green roofs on all new buildings over a certain size across the state. The bill, while not successful, was a first for a state government. It called for a $220,000 research project on the costs and benefits and policy options to be implemented by the Department of Commerce. One of the innovative aspects of the research is to look at the potential for implementing agrivoltaic green roofs - those which combine traditional green roofing, with solar panels and vegetable production.
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Board Chair Award
Charlie Miller; Roofmeadow/Studio Sustena
Charlie Miller, founder of Roofmeadow/Studio Sustena, brought his technical expertise to the table early on in the industry, advocating for better science and measurement of performance characteristics, particularly for stormwater retention. Charlie’s firm has won many awards for its superlative design work, with innovative emphasis on systems thinking and systems design. Charlie has been a tireless advocate for green roofs in Philadelphia and beyond.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Manfred Kohler; World Green Infrastructure Network
Dr. Manfred Kohler. Dr. Köhler founded the Green Roof Research Centre at the University of Applied Sciences, Neubrandenburg; since 2008, he has been the Vice Dean of the Department of Landscape Science and Geomatics. Since 2014, he has been a Data Master of Sustainable Architecture (Shanghai, China). Dr. Kohler has written and/or coauthored more than 200 publications on green roofs, walls and other forms of green infrastructure during his career. Some of his works are displayed here. Manfred Köhler was already a leader in green roof/ living wall research by the time he got involved with Green Roofs for Healthy Cities in the early 2000s, having published several seminal works in the 1990s (e.g., (Köhler, 1990; Köhler, Barth, & Brandwein, 1993). He has written approximately 150 scientific publications, mainly with a focus on green roofs, living walls and indoor greening.Dr. Köhler’s research interests reflect an unlimited curiosity and equally boundless capacity for collaboration. He has published on green roof performance with regards to evapotranspiration (Kaiser, Köhler, Schmidt, & Wolff, 2019), hot-humid tropics (Köhler et al., 2002), ecological process (Köhler & Poll, 2010; Oberndorfer et al., 2007), insects and biodiversity (Ksiazek-Mikenas, Herrmann, Menke, & Koehler, 2018; Ksiazek-Mikenas & Koehler, 2018; Oberndorfer et al., 2007) and plants (Köhler, 2006). He has been academic supervisor and external examiner to many students. Dr. Kohler has been a tireless communicator about the benefits of green roofs and walls. Here he is at the University Building in Neubrandenburg, Germany with a film team explaining his latest research efforts in 2015. Some of his research trials have been ongoing for more than twenty years. In 2008, Dr. Kohler co-founded the World Green Infrastructure Network, an association of national and regional green roof and wall associations, dedicated to developing the industry around the world. He has served as the president of WGIN for more than 12 years - an international ambassador for green roofs and walls. This is a picture of the WGIN board members taken in classical Japanese costumes during the recent World Congress in Japan. The next World Congress will be held in Berlin in June 27-29, 2023.
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Corporate Legacy Awards
Hydrotech
American Hydrotech, Inc.®, is a recognized leader in the development, production and distribution of premium waterproofing and roofing products. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the company was founded in 1977 after acquiring the United States distribution rights for Monolithic Membrane 6125®, a unique hot fluid-applied rubberized asphalt waterproofing membrane developed in the early 1960’s by Uniroyal Ltd. The membrane has been installed worldwide on over 2 billion square feet of roof decks, plazas, vertical foundations, reflecting pools and other structures in over 80 countries. American Hydrotech was supportive of the development of green roofs in Chicago, even before the establishment of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. They have been long standing corporate members, helped to develop the Green Roof Professional (GRP) accreditation program, have presented at, and supported numerous CitiesAlive Conferences and Symposia and have won numerous awards for their project work.
The Sika Group
Sika Sarnafil Sika Corporation, based in Lyndhurst, NJ, is a leading supplier of specialty chemical products and industrial materials serving construction and industrial markets including transportation, marine, and automotive. Its technologies are focused on sealing, bonding, damping, reinforcing and protecting. Sika’s product lines include roofing, concrete admixtures, specialty mortars, epoxies, structural strengthening systems, industrial flooring, sealants, adhesives, specialty acoustic and reinforcing materials. Sika Sarnafil was one of the first major waterproofing companies to embrace green roofing and support the development of waterproofing best practices for the industry through the Green Roof Professional accreditation program. At one point I think SIka Sarnafil had more GRPs on staff than any other company. Sika Sarnafil staff have served on the board of directors, the firm has won numerous awards and always been a strong supporter of our events.
Green Roof Plants
Green Roof Plants, aka Emory Knoll Farms, under the leadership of Ed Snodgrass committed in the very earliest days of the green roof industry to growing, researching and educating on a wide range of plants for green roofs. They are truly horticultural and green roof pioneers with both national and international reach and impact. A long-standing member of GRHC, since 1998, Green Roof Plants/Emory Knoll Farms, Inc. has been the nation’s leading supplier of green roof plants in North America. They have more experience than any other nursery in the United States in green roof horticulture. Green Roof Plants continues to be active in green roof plant research and collaborate with educational institutions and nurseries, worldwide.
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Devens Enterprise Commission
The Devens Enterprise Commission (DEC) has been a long standing supporter of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities and has led by example. They have developed and implemented innovative policies to support both green roof and wall implementation on new development projects, supported training and policy resource development, hosted events and supported the leadership of Peter Lowitt, who was the first board chair of GRHC. The DEC is the regulatory and permitting authority for the community. Its role is to administer and enforce the reuse plan, bylaws, regulations, and sustainability vision. The commission functions as a board of health, conservation commission, zoning board of appeals, historic district commission, and planning board. The DEC recently coordinated the production of the Devens Forward Climate Action and Resiliency Plan, a collaboration between staff, community members, and outside experts that addresses how to build resilience against growing climate change impacts in Devens.
Education Awards
Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation
An Examination of the Plant and Fungal Communities on Green Roofs and their Ability to Influence Ecosystem Services
Anna Droz, PhD; Kent State University
Outstanding Master Thesis
An Experimental Field Study on the Thermal & Water Balance Performance of Vegetated Roof Systems
Harveer Singh Takhar; British Columbia Institute of Technology
Honorable Mention Master Thesis
Vegetative Roof Germination of Ohio Native Coastal Species in Reclaimed Soils
Alyssa Skilton; Kent State University
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Learn more about our Awards program here.
