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Sophia Academy Roof Garden Sophia Academy Roof Garden Academic Partner: School of Architecture, Art and Historic Preservation Community Partner: Sophia Academy Fall 2013 The Roger Williams University Community Partnerships Center The Roger Williams University (RWU) Commu- • Graphic Design CPC Project Disclaimer: The reader shall pressed or implied, regarding the deliverables nity Partnerships Center (CPC) provides project- • Historic Preservation understand the following in regards to this project provided pursuant to this Agreement and the based assistance to non-profit organizations, gov- • History report: quality thereof, and Sponsor should not rely ernment agencies and low- and moderate-income • Justice Studies on the assistance as constituting professional communities in Rhode Island and Southeastern • Law 1. The Project is being undertaken in the public advice. RWU, the CPC, the faculty mentor, Massachusetts. Our mission is to undertake and • Marketing and Communications interest. and the students involved are not covered by complete projects that will benefit the local com- • Political Science professional liability insurance. munity while providing RWU students with ex- • Psychology 2. The deliverables generated hereunder are in- perience in real-world projects that deepen their • Public Administration tended to provide conceptual information 4. Neither RWU, the CPC, the faculty mentor, academic experiences. • Public Relations only to assist design and planning and such nor the students involved assume respon- • Sustainable Studies are not intended, nor should they be used, for sibility or liability for the deliverables pro- CPC projects draw upon the skills and experience • Visual Arts and Digital Media construction or other project implementa- vided hereunder or for any subsequent use of students and faculty from RWU programs in • Writing Studies tion. Furthermore, professional and/or other by sponsor or other party and Sponsor agrees areas such as: services may be needed to ultimately imple- to indemnify and hold harmless RWU, the Community partnerships broaden and deepen the ment the desired goals of the public in owner- Center, the Faculty Mentor, and the Center’s • American Studies academic experiences of RWU students by allow- ship of the project served. student against any and all claims arising out • Architecture and Urban Design ing them to work on real-world projects, through of Sponsor’s utilization, sale, or transfer of de- • Business curriculum-based and service-learning opportuni- 3. The parties understand, agree and acknowl- liverables provided under this Agreement. • Community Development ties collaborating with non-profit and community edge that the deliverables being provided • Education leaders as they seek to achieve their missions. The hereunder are being performed by students • Engineering and Construction Management services provided by the CPC would normally not who are not licensed and/or otherwise certi- Community Partnerships Center • Environmental Science and Sustainability be available to these organizations due to their fied as professionals. Neither RWU nor the Roger Williams University • Finance cost and/or diverse needs. CPC makes any warranties or guarantees ex- One Old Ferry Road Bristol, RI 02809 [email protected] http://cpc.rwu.edu Sophia Academy Roof Garden | 2 Table of Contents Introduction ...................................4 Process ...........................................5 History ...........................................6 Site Context ...................................7 Green Roof Study ...........................9 Green Roof Precedents .................12 Design Options ............................14 Proposed roof garden perspective. Design by Leslie Hulbert. Fall 2013 Team Members: Ryan Bonassar | Paul Clark | Robert Clarke | Lisa Fasciglione | April Gaddis | Heather Gillock | Cassidhe Griffiths | Leslie Hulbert | Alexandra Reilly | Chelsea Weibust ARCH 413 - Advanced Architectural Design Studio | Ginna Johnson, ASLA CPC Project Managers: Ellen Hassett | Meghan Spratt | Lisa Fasciglione Sophia Academy Roof Garden | 3 Introduction In October 2012, Sophia Academy purchased In the spring of 2013, Sophia Academy applied Diagram of city views from a former City School building that will be the to the Community Partnerships Center at Roger the future rooftop garden. school’s first permanent home. Currently located Williams University for support in creating poten- Sketch by Chelsea Weibust. at the former St. Edward’s Grammar School on tial designs for the rooftop garden. Students en- Branch Avenue in Providence, the new building rolled in ARCH 413 — Advanced Architectural (located on Elmwood Avenue) would allow for Design Studio — in the fall of 2013 were tasked the school to invest in a rooftop garden — some- with creating potential design options for the thing that was once part of the structure. rooftop garden at the new Sophia Academy site. Students looked at possible programmatic uses for The addition of a roof garden to the new site would the roof garden and explored potential material- give Sophia Academy science faculty members the ity and vegetation options for the site. Students opportunity to provide hands-on learning experi- visited other green roofs and roof gardens in the ences for the students. The garden would serve as Providence area as part of the precedent analysis a backdrop to the top-floor meeting area, which for this project. looks out onto the roof. Additionally, the rooftop garden would serve as a living and vibrant tribute The work included in this book showcases the re- to Sophia Academy’s Founder, Mary Reilly, RSM. sults of a semester’s worth of work for the students in the design studio. Sophia Academy Roof Garden | 4 Process 2 During the fall of 2013, landscape architect Gin- The desired goal for the project was for the staff na Johnson, ASLA, Principal at Esker Company at Sophia Academy to have a vision of what the Landscape Architecture in Lexington, MA, served transformed roof space could look like on the site as the faculty mentor for students in the Advanced and a program for how the space could be utilized. Architectural Studio, which studied the principles This vision would allow the leaders of Sophia of landscape architecture. As part of one project Academy to seek the appropriate funds needed to during the studio, students worked on designing transform the roof space. an engaging roof garden for the new Sophia Acad- emy building. Students were tasked with develop- ing possible programmatic uses of the green roof for students and staff, maximizing the services the 1 green roof could provide. At the beginning of the process, students were asked to conduct an analysis of the building, which once had a green roof as part of its struc- ture, and the surrounding community to help 1. Proposed roof parapet detail. Sketch by inform their design. Students gained inspiration Cassidhe Griffiths. for their designs from site visits conducted locally at the Granoff Center at Brown University, the 2. A sample green roof. Peerless Building and the Save The Bay Education Center. Students studied various types of green roofs and planting systems that could be used on the site in order to inform their designs. Sophia Academy Roof Garden | 5 2 History 1 “Sophia Academy is a school of abundant opportu- 1. Founder Sister Mary nity where middle-school girls discover and develop Reilly in front of Sophia their potential and become confident and compas- Academy at its Branch Avenue location. sionate young women prepared to meet the challenges of their world.” 2. A symbolic “ground • All-girls middle school (5th-8th grade). breaking” ceremony held at the new Elmwood • Founded in 2001 by Sister Mary Reilly. Avenue location. • Fosters intellectual, moral, cultural and social 3. Students of Sophia growth for its students. Academy. • Its 60 students are city residents (specifically those facing economic inequities). 3 4 4. The Sophia Academy logo in the floor of the • School is supported through private dona- new building. tions, corporate and foundation grants and special events. • Annual tuition is $12,500. Sophia Academy Roof Garden | 6 1 Site Context 2 1. Aerial view of the new building. Current Location: 979 Branch Ave, Providence, RI (leasing building) 2. Google Map image of the Elmwood Avenue New Location: location. 582 Elmwood Ave, Providence RI (move in 2014) 3. Front of the new school, a two-story, masonry New building: structure, which was • Originally built as a branch of Industrial built in 1948 as a bank. National Bank in 1948. • Used as a high school and by a construction company as an office. • Size: 14,000 square feet. • Site size: 28,000 square feet. • Two-story building (and basement) masonry 3 building. Sophia Academy Roof Garden | 7 1 2 Renderings of new building and site. Adaptive reuse project by Durkee Brown Architects. 3 Sophia Academy Roof Garden | 8 2 1. Diagram of basic green roof requirements: Green Roof Study Image source: www.barr architects.net/landscape Environmental Benefits 2. Green roof HYDROPACK® field in Batavia, NY. • Use of roof area as additional space. Image source: “Green • Improves rainwater management. Roof Design Guide” from • Improves thermal performance. Vegetal i.D. • Reduces sound transmission through roof. • Visually attractive with a variety of plants and foliage. • Low maintanence (extensive and brown roofs). • Little to no artificial irrigation. • Habitat for wildlife. • Reduces environmental impact of the building within its surrounding.
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