Episode 28 - The Evolution of Green Roofs with Linda Velazquez
In this episode, Sustainable Futures sits down with green roof designer, advocate, and industry pioneer Linda S. Velazquez, founder and publisher of Greenroofs.com. Linda reflects on first encountering green roofs in the late 1990s, the early days of the Green Roof Professional accreditation, and how the industry has evolved over the past 25 years. Drawing from her global project database and decades of experience, she shares insights on innovation, emerging trends, market expansion, and what the future holds for green roofs and green walls in North America and beyond. Join us for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, legacy, and the next chapter of living architecture.
Guest
Linda S. Velazquez
Linda S. Velazquez, ASLA, LEED AP, GRP is the founder and publisher of Greenroofs.com since 1999. She reports and presents extensively about greenroofs and green living architecture, including the yearly “Top 10 List of Hot Trends in Greenroof & Greenwall Design” since 2007. She holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Georgia (2000), has been published in numerous books and journals, and is principal of Sky Gardens Studio (2004) where she concentrates on ecological design and environmental performance.
Greenroofs.com is a dynamic website, online media company & comprehensive global resource with a vibrant social network, Connecting the Planet + Living Architecture. Our Vision is to inform and engage; our Mission is to connect people. We connect emerging trends of nature-based infrastructure via features, news, videos and publish the Greenroofs.com Directory & the Greenroofs.com Projects Database with about 1,800 project profiles. She invites you to share your vision and publish your work with Greenroofs.com and write an article, submit your projects & join the Greenroofs.com Network group on LinkedIn and their Directory.
Host
Steven Peck, GRP, HASLA
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
Steven spearheaded the first green roof demonstration project on Toronto City Hall 20 years ago and the mandatory green roof policy in Toronto a decade ago. This innovative policy has resulted in more than 6 million additional square feet of green space across the city. Due to Steven’s work, GRHC has helped to win green roof policy victories in San Francisco, Washington, DC; Portland, Oregon; and Denver, Colorado. Steven also founded Green Infrastructure Ontario coalition to bring together organizations that share an interest in the protection and development of green infrastructure in Ontario. In 2007 he co-founded the World Green Infrastructure Network, an international organization that promotes the use of green infrastructure around the world.
