Green Roofs Open to the Public

Green Roofs Open to the Public

As of October 2006, there are more than 250 public and private green roofs totaling more than 1 million square feet that are under design or construction in Chicago (see map attached as a PDF file below). Because it believes so strongly in the benefits of green roofs, the City of Chicago recently adopted a policy that encourages and, in some cases, requires green roofs in developments undergoing Department of Community Development review. These include private, not-for-profit and public developments receiving financial or other types of public assistance from the City, as well as Planned Developments and Lakefront Protection Ordinance Developments.

The City has installed a number of green roofs on its own buildings. The first municipal green roof in the country, the City Hall rooftop garden, is probably the best-known green roof in Chicago. Unfortunately, it is not open for public tours. However, it can be viewed by surrounding office buildings, including the building that houses the Department of Environment (DOE). If you would like to view the garden from DOE’s offices, contact Mark Farina at (312) 744-5903 to schedule an appointment.

Some green roofs are open to the public and can be seen at the Chicago Center for Green Technology, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Soldier Field (on top of the parking garage) and Millennium Park. In fact, the portion of Millennium Park atop the Millennium Park parking garage IS a green roof!

Although its green roof is not open to the public, the Wal-Mart at 4650 W. North Ave. is studying the effect that green and reflective roofs have on energy conservation and stormwater management. Click here for more information.