High on green space

Plants eyed on rec center roof

By KAREN KURDZIEL
Staff Writer

Feb. 14, 2002

BEACHWOOD — Architects designing the city's new community center want it to blend into the environment.

Officials agree, but are leery of being the first in the area to create green space on the roof of a $7.3 million building.

Their concerns surfaced last week when representatives of Schmidt Copeland Parker Stevens Inc. presented more detailed designs of the center and signature park to be built on the Shaker Boulevard median strip.

The architects recommend covering the sloping roof of the 50,000-square-foot building with low-lying ground cover that would camouflage the 2-story structure. The median sits below street level.

The greenery would also protect against leaks and slow water run-off, according to Schmidt Copeland's project manager John Guzik.

The concept is popular in Europe, but few builders in the U.S. have cultivated the idea, Guzik said.

He said it can be found on Chicago's City Hall, on a chiropractic center in eastern Pennsylvania and covering a fencing academy in Philadelphia.

Schmidt Copeland also advised the city to heat and cool the community center with a geothermal system — also a new concept but one that is more accepted.

A number of local structures have such a system, including the North Royalton Middle School and the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center in Bay Village

North Royalton maintenance supervisor Wade Schneider endorses the 7-year-old geothermal system in the 240,000-square-foot middle school.

"I was skeptical at first, but now I'm impressed," he said. "If I was building a new home, I'd put it in."

City council wants to investigate both options before giving Schmidt Copeland the go-ahead to finalize designs.

Councilmen Martin Arsham, Mark Mintz and Sol Eisen were appointed to research the efficacy of both the green roof and geothermal system.

They are expected to report their findings in about two weeks, according to Mayor Merle Gorden.

"It's not that we doubt the architects," Gorden said. "We just want to get verification that this is practical."

Both the green roof and the geothermal system would be more costly to install, but could save the city money in the long run, architects said.

Guzik said once council OKs his firm's proposal, it will take six to eight months to get construction underway.

Officials at the Feb. 6 meeting — which was attended by a small contingent of residents who left early — stressed that they must consider costs involved in the project.

Schmidt said the entire park, including the recreation center, will cost $13.4 million.

Council must decide whether to do the whole package at once or build the park in phases.

The plan calls for the rec center, a ball field, a playground and gardens on the median east of Richmond Road.

The side west of Richmond, which architects dubbed "the barrens," will have hiking and biking trails and a sledding hill.

A broad tunnel under Richmond Road will connect the two sides. Architects said it will be well-lit and have security cameras.