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Stano Landscaping first introduced greenroof installations as a service offering in 2006. Since then, as more and more organizations have made conscious decisions to go "green," Stano has earned its reputation as the greenroof installation contractor in the Milwaukee area. To date, Stano has installed more greenroofs than any other Milwaukee landscape contractor and its list of greenroof clients keeps growing.
Greenroofs require intricate planning and typically include special drainage, pavers, engineered topsoil, irrigation, and trees, shrubs, perennials and annual plantings. Stano works hand-in-hand with area landscape architects, general contractors and roofing contractors on all of its greenroof projects.
Stano is especially proud of the award-winning greenroof gardens at St. Luke's Hospital which showcase both the artistic qualities and the beauty of greenroofs. The hospital's indoor and outdoor gardens feature artful walkways and sitting areas where the the lush greenery, vivid blooms and panoramic views all can be enjoyed.
We welcome you to a short tour of these gardens at St. Luke's:
The rooftop gardens provide an oasis for hospital staff, patients and visitors on a year-round basis. These gardens are a welcome retreat from the sterile hospital environment. Stano Landscaping recently received a Grand Award for "The St. Luke's Healing Garden" in the 40th Annual Environmental Improvement Awards Program sponsored by PLANET, the Professional Landcare Network.
Both indoor and outdoor gardens feature curvilinear and artistic retaining walls, beautiful plantings and inviting sitting areas. In total, they contain over 1,200 linear feet of wall stone and caps.
The interior garden provides a serene, tropical setting which features graceful trees, thriving shrubs, trickling water and vivid blooms.
More than 100 cap stones were specially engraved with the names of project sponsors. These personalized stones were then placed in order by family name and donor group.
A specially-designed healing garden features a maze surrounded by lush plantings and colorful perennials. The maze provides garden visitors with an interesting and challenging path to enhance their "healing garden" experience.
A garden pond is surrounded by tropical foliage and natural outcropping stone. It features an interactive spitting frog fountain.
The north walkway, which connects the east and west areas of the exterior garden, is flanked by plentiful evergreens and flowering perennials. Although narrow, it is ADA wheelchair accessible for hospital visitors.
A visitor enjoys the serene environment of the east exterior garden.
Construction Posed Unique Challenges
Each and every greenroof project is unique, and each poses special installation challenges. In the case of St. Luke's, it was its hospital environment complete with sensitive equipment and controlled air. Among the challenges:
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create minimal disturbance to the operating rooms located directly below the construction area
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create minimal contamination to the hospital's controlled air
Construction photos below portray the steps Stano took to meet these and other challenges:
Mindful of the operating suites below, all project materials were hoisted by crane to the 8th floor roof top site. In addition, logistical sequencing was necessary due to rooftop weight restrictions and often-harsh weather conditions.
The interior garden features a pond of natural stone. Pond construction involved critical control of pond pumping equipment and basin waterproofing.
All tropical plants were transported through hospital elevators and corridors. Protective wrapping was required to reduce contamination.
Stano Landscaping recently received a Grand Award for "The St. Luke's Healing Garden" in the 40th Annual Environmental Improvement Awards Program sponsored by PLANET, the Professional Landcare Network.
Stano's Greenroof Portfolio
In addition to St. Luke's, Stano's greenroof portfolio includes:
- Bayshore Mall
- Milwaukee School of Engineering Man at Work Art Museum
- University Club Tower
- River Renaissance
- Froedert Hospital Cancer Center Greenroof
- Mortara Instrument Greenroof
- Eastcastle Place
Going Green With Greenroofs
by Matt Stano, President,
Stano Landscaping, Inc.
As more and more property owners and businesses look for ways to help the environment and save money in the long run, greenroofs are gaining in popularity.
For those who may not know exactly what a greenroof is, here is a simple definition: It is basically a vegetated roof cover system with growing media and plants in place of common roofing materials.
Greenroofs often feature lawn areas, fountains, walkways, and pools. Some even have sitting areas. Regardless how elaborate, however, green roofs provide a variety of benefits which typically help to:
- absorb rainwater and reduce runoff
- filter pollution from the water
- prevent flooding
- cool the air
- reduce noise
- reduce heating and cooling costs
- extend the life of a roof,
and they,
- are pleasing to the eye
- add green space
- and provide a welcome habitat for birds
Greenroofs require intricate planning and often specify special drainage, pavers, engineered topsoil, irrigation, and trees, shrubs, perennials and annual plantings. Stano works hand-in-hand with area landscape architects, general contractors and roofing contractors on its greenroof projects.
Stano began installing greenroofs in 2006, and to date has installed more greenroofs than any other Milwaukee landscape contractor. We have much to be proud of.
Recently, Milwaukee School of Engineering (one of Stano's greenroof installations) was named a 2008 Project of Distinction by the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Wisconsin Chapter.
(link to news page article)
And Stano recently completed the greenroof gardens at St. Luke's Hospital which showcase both the artistic qualities and the beauty of green roofs. The hospital's indoor and outdoor gardens feature artful walkways and sitting areas with lush greenery, vivid blooms and panoramic views. We invite you to tour the gardens on our website.
(click here.)
As green projects continue to become a vital part of our service offerings, I can't help but think how well they fit into our overall mission established 46 years ago: BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENTS.
Our extensive experience providing other service offerings over the years has prepared us well to do the work we know best and to be ready for our "green" opportunities in the future.
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