Northwest Eco-Roof Plants
Multnomah County Library
The county’s main library branch is the first in Oregon to house an “eco-roof” – a structure that uses plants and engineered growing media to help clean the air and control storm water.
Kat West, sustainability manager with the Multnomah County Sustainability Program, noted that alternative roofs are important because they mimic the function of a natural meadow.
“Their many benefits include minimizing the runoff of rainwater and pollution into our rivers, saving money on energy costs and thereby climate change impacts, they mitigate the heat island effect, and they save money by extending the lifespan of a roof,” West noted. “Multnomah County has more than 25 adopted sustainability policies and Eco- Roofs are tangible examples of our commitment to a sustainable future.”
The library’s Eco-Roof, which covers a total of 7,188 square feet, contains more than 17,000 various sedums, grasses, and native plants. The technology itself is unique in that it uses a patented modular interlocking stormwater management technology manufactured by Columbia Green. The General Contractor on the project was Snyder Roofing of Oregon, LLC.
Height/Hauteur: 24" (60cm) 
Height/Hauteur: 24" (60cm) 
Height/Hauteur: 24" (60cm) 
Height/Hauteur: 18" (45cm) 
Height/Hauteur: 2" (5cm) 
Height/Hauteur: 6" (15cm) 
Height/Hauteur: 18" (50cm) 
Height/Hauteur: 6" (15cm) 
Height/Hauteur: 12" (30cm) 
Height/Hauteur: 24" (60cm) 