Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
AECOM’s Shanghai office roof garden became more useful when its purpose shifted from hosting occasional corporate events to supporting everyday employee use, contact with nature, and participation in gardening. The case also shows why a rooftop landscape cannot be treated as a finished installation: shade, resilient planting, flexible seating, committed stewardship, and money for upkeep all shaped whether the space stayed usable. The project’s authors describe encouraging wildlife observations, but they do not report a formal biodiversity survey or measured environmental benefits.
Why did the roof garden need a new purpose?
The roof garden at AECOM’s Shanghai office began with a familiar corporate ambition: make an attractive outdoor space available for events and visual amenity. But a terrace designed around occasional gatherings did not match how most employees might use a roof in ordinary working life. The later iterations sought to make the garden a place for lunch, conversation, quiet time, and contact with plants—not just a venue for planned functions.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
That shift is the central lesson of the case. A rooftop landscape is not successful simply because it looks complete in a design image or can host an event. Its everyday value depends on whether people can comfortably use it through changing weather and work patterns, and whether the plants and site elements can endure the conditions of an exposed roof. In this project, the design direction changed through successive phases rather than arriving fully formed.
The American Society of Landscape Architects’ Part 3 case account, by Lee Parks and LIAO Jingjing, describes the 2021 revitalization, the pandemic-era return to the office, and lessons the authors drew from roughly seven years of development. It is a practitioner-authored project narrative, not an independent evaluation. The distinction matters: the authors share observations and conclusions, but the account does not provide monitored before-and-after data on biodiversity, stormwater retention, cooling, or employee wellbeing.
Popular on Amazon
- Ergonomically Designed: Work in tight areas with a compact design that gets into tough spots
- Both tools are designed to fit into difficult to reach spaces
- Complete a wide range of applications with a high-performance motor that delivers up to 300 UWO, and an impact driver delivering up to 1,400 in-lbs of torque
- Both the DEWALT impact driver and drill driver feature integrated LED work lights with a convenient 20-second delay, ensuring enhanced visibility in dimly lit or challenging work areas
- One-Handed Loading - Keep one hand free with a 1/4 in. hex chuck that accepts 1 in. bit tips
What changed in the 2021 revitalization?
The 2021 vision was to increase amenities, encourage employees to spend time outdoors, and increase contact with nature and fresh air. The authors also describe employee participation and more equitable access to nature as part of the garden’s purpose. In practical terms, that meant adding elements that supported ordinary use and involvement, rather than focusing only on a polished event setting.
- Flexible seating: Movable tables and chairs let users adjust where and how they sat, including seeking shade or arranging themselves for conversation.
- More planting: Additional containers and nectar-producing species expanded the planted area and created more opportunities for employees to engage with the garden.
- Organized participation: The Roof Garden Committee was renewed, and a social-media group helped maintain a channel for garden activity and communication.
- Employee-built features: Employees made containers, giving participation a physical, visible role in the space.
- Plant identification: Plants were identified in both Latin and Chinese, connecting the garden to botanical names as well as local-language recognition.
- Composting: A composting facility was added to manage garden waste and provide habitat for beneficial insects.
The garden’s supporting spaces also changed in meaning. A former concept for a high-end barbecue space had, by this phase, become more like an allotment shed for tools and accessories. That change captures the shift from event amenity to ongoing care: the practical work of tending a garden requires somewhere for the things that support it.
Recommended Free Tools
These interventions were connected. Seating without shade would not solve the discomfort of a hot afternoon; planting without a plan for watering and care would not guarantee a resilient landscape; and volunteer activity without continuity could fade. The case suggests that rooftop design choices need to be considered together with the routines, people, and resources that keep the space functioning.
How did employees use the space, and what did the authors observe?
The authors report that movable furniture was used for shaded lunches, quiet time, and conversation. Those uses are significant because they reflect routine activities rather than only special events. A Community Garden Festival also brought visitors to the roof, including Tongji University Professor Liu Yuelai, providing a public-facing moment for a project otherwise centered on the office community.
Also popular on Amazon
- Valued Carpenter Pencil Set: You will get 2 pcs solid carpenter pencils with 26 piece 2.8 mm refills, 1 replaceable sharpener, 1 plastic storage box.The complete carpenter pencils combination allows you to finish your work faster and more easily
- Deep Hole Marker Pencil: The deep-hole construction pencils adopts 45mm elongated tip design, which is more convenient to mark in the small hole or in other tight areas that other carpenter markers cannot reach
- Carpenter Pencils with Sharpener: The sharpener is screwed into the top of the work pencil, which won't get lost either. Built-in pencil sharpener that keep the lead with pointed and smooth to Improves line of sight in fine work
- Stronger Solid Lead: This work pencil is matched with a 2.8 mm thick lead , which is much thicker and stronger during the drawing process of construction work, it will not break or damage easily
- Marks on Various Surfaces: 3 colors solid construction pencil can marks on various surfaces,such as metal, plastic, wood, paper etc. Ideals for woodworkers, contractors, craftsmen, builders, merchants and masons
Participation was not constant through the year. The authors say employee interest rose in spring and declined in summer. New parasols helped make hot, humid conditions more manageable, but the seasonal pattern is a reminder that a participatory program has to work with climate and comfort, not simply rely on enthusiasm. The case does not provide survey results or attendance figures, so it cannot establish how many employees used the garden or how their wellbeing changed.
In 2021 and early 2022, the authors say they observed geckos, birds, and a broader range of organisms. They present these as observations from the garden, not as the result of a formal, audited species survey. The compost facility’s intended role included habitat for beneficial insects, but the account does not quantify insect populations or demonstrate a measured change in ecological performance.
That evidence still has value when interpreted at the right scale. Repeated sightings and reports of a wider range of organisms can help practitioners notice how a site is developing and invite users to pay attention to nature. They are not substitutes for baseline surveys, repeat monitoring, or quantified results when a project needs to claim specific biodiversity outcomes.
What did the earlier 2018 phase reveal about rooftop maintenance?
The companion Part 2 account helps explain why the later emphasis on resilience and stewardship mattered. In spring 2018, flowering plants attracted pollinators, mostly bees, and employees shared seasonal observations and took part in watering and garden maintenance. By June, salad and herb containers were producing food.
Also popular on Amazon
- 【Great Compatibility】This Katerk 1/4 inch hex shank bit holder is specifically designed for 1/4 inch hex shank drill bits. It's compatible with most 1/4 fast hex handles, hex sockets, various electric screwdrivers, and handheld screwdrivers. The bit holder makes it a valuable addition for any handyman.
- 【Secure and Safe】Built with a secure backup nut design, each drill bit holder securely locks onto your bits, ensuring they stay firmly in place. Additionally, our bit holder incorporates a high-quality steel ball rolling design that holds up to several kilograms of weight, ensuring your various drill bits don't fall off.
- 【Easy One-Handed Operation】The bit holder for impact driver allows you to change bits single-handedly, simplifying your workflow. Its multi-color design further allows for quick identification of the drill bit you need.
- 【Compact and Convenient】Thanks to its compact size, this 1/4 inch bit holder is easy to carry around. The bit holder allows for easy attachment to various tools, making this a convenient addition to your construction accessories. The Katerk bit holder is cast from high-quality alloy material, promising a long product lifespan. Despite its rugged strength, the bit holder remains lightweight, making it portable.
- 【Cool Christmas Gift For Men Stocking Stuffers】 This screwdriver bit holder, driver bit holder, impact bit holder, can be given as a gift to your loved one, especially for anyone involved in construction or electrical work. It's a must-have for stocking stuffers for men and women, tools gifts for dad, tech gadgets for men, gifts for dad, gifts for him, gifts for husband, gifts for boyfriend, cool gadgets for men, and cool gifts for dad.
Then summer conditions changed the picture. The authors describe intense July heat, declining volunteer engagement, and hand watering because the roof had no automatic irrigation system. Plants with high water needs wilted and faced pest and disease problems, while more resilient species came to dominate. The account does not provide a plant-by-plant survival rate or a measured water budget, but it makes the operational issue clear: a planting palette and maintenance routine that depend on frequent volunteer watering may become difficult to sustain under severe heat.
Weather also affected nonliving elements. The authors report deterioration of furniture and decking after continued exposure to sun, rain, and wind. That observation connects landscape choices to lifecycle planning. Outdoor furniture, decking, and other exposed components need an expectation of wear, inspection, repair, and eventual replacement. The case does not specify service lives, materials, or repair costs, so it cannot support a quantified durability comparison.
The Part 2 account also describes a demonstration green-roof cross-section, including drainage cells, soil, roots, and species for 300 mm and 600 mm systems. Those depths describe the demonstration sections; they are not evidence of performance at the office garden, nor a recommendation for another building. A reader considering a rooftop project should not treat a demonstrative assembly or depth as a substitute for project-specific design information.
What did the 2022 office closure show—and what did it not show?
In spring 2022, the office closed for more than two months. The authors describe the closure as a test of resilience under zero maintenance and say many plants remained vigorous. This is a notable observation from a period when ordinary tending stopped, but it is not evidence that green roofs or roof gardens need no maintenance.
Also popular on Amazon
- Toolwiz 17-inch magnetic sweeper maintaining a load capacity of up to 8.8 pounds provides a perfect solution to the problem of clearing small ferrous metal objects, such as nails, tacks, bolts, and metal shavings from workshops or garage floors.
- Convenient and portable：17” is good for home, small workshop, or small yard as it is space-saving and more reachable for narrow areas. Perfect for collecting nails or small parts in the car, under the table, and in other nooks or crannies.
- Upgraded Handle Design: The handle features a sturdy, non-telescopic design to completely prevent slipping during use. By simply adding or removing the extension poles, the height can be adjusted to 3 different lengths: 18.9" (48 cm), 32.5" (82.5 cm), and 42.5" (108 cm) from ground to top. This customizable height helps prevent back bending and muscle strain, making your cleaning tasks effortless
- Flexible wheels: Upgrade wheel screws to avoid being too tight to spin or too loose. More comfortable 3-inch rubber wheels roll smoothly on carpet, grass, concrete, and hardwood floors. Just push and pull this rolling magnet-sweeper to pick up metal nails easily.
- Lightweight materials: The magnetic nail sweeper's compact and lightweight design makes the sweeping can be done anywhere you want, Push or pull it under the furniture, passing through the workshop floor, driveway, mud, grass, and gravel.
The result should be read narrowly. It describes one observed interval in one garden, at one point in its development; it does not establish how every plant performed, how the site would fare through repeated neglect, or whether the roof’s other components remained in good condition. Nor does it erase the earlier account of hand watering, plant stress, and weather-related deterioration. Instead, the two phases together suggest that a planting mix with more hardy, drought-tolerant species may be more capable of withstanding interruptions than a scheme dependent on thirsty plants and uninterrupted care.
The authors’ broader conclusion is that the garden tended to return to a lower-intervention state every two to three years. They favor hardy, drought-tolerant planting for a climate with demanding summers and cooler winters. This is the authors’ interpretation of the project’s evolution, not a universally proven maintenance interval or a guarantee that a low-intervention landscape will require no labor.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →What should another office or campus learn from the case?
The project offers a useful decision framework for roof gardens in Shanghai-like climates, while remaining a single case rather than a controlled comparison of design approaches. Its practical lessons concern use, exposure, resources, and accountability.
- Start with likely everyday use. Ask whether the roof is intended mainly for occasional events or for routine activities such as lunch, conversation, and quiet breaks. The AECOM garden’s later direction favored flexible everyday use over a high-end event concept.
- Design for seasonal comfort. The authors report that shade from parasols made hot, humid conditions more manageable and that employee interest varied seasonally. Seating and planting should be considered alongside shade and the times of year when people are most likely to use the space.
- Match plants to rooftop exposure and local climate. The authors describe using native and non-native species to explore ecological fit with Shanghai’s climate, and they ultimately emphasize hardy, drought-tolerant choices. The case does not identify a complete planting schedule, so it cannot serve as a ready-made species list for another site.
- Make water and labor assumptions explicit. In the earlier phase, the lack of automatic irrigation meant hand watering; engagement dropped during intense summer heat, and high-water plants suffered. A project plan should account for who will water and maintain the garden when volunteers are unavailable, without assuming that participation will remain constant.
- Budget for exposed elements over time. Furniture and decking deteriorated under sun, rain, and wind. The authors stress the need for funds to repair, replace, and maintain outdoor elements. The available case account does not give cost figures, so teams need to establish their own budgets rather than infer a cost from this example.
- Give stewardship a structure. A committee, communication channel, employee-built containers, and practical storage for tools all supported participation. These features help translate interest into organized activity, although the authors’ account also shows that organizational change and seasonal conditions can disrupt it.
- Set evidence expectations at the outset. If the project is expected to demonstrate ecological or environmental outcomes, define what will be recorded and how. Wildlife sightings and observations are useful narrative evidence, but they are not quantified proof of species gains, runoff reduction, or heat mitigation.
The authors summarize their conclusion this way: “Low maintenance, resilient ecological approaches have a more practical approach to roof gardens in corporate settings, which the 2022 lockdown proved.” The quote reflects their judgment from this project. For another roof, the practical test is whether the landscape’s intended use, planting, care plan, governance, and budget remain aligned as conditions change.
Also popular on Amazon
- APPLY TO MOST DRILLS : 6 pieces screw extractors work with any drill and all the screw size or bolt (3-12mm), These extractor tools are used to reverse the damaged screw counterclockwise until it is released
- The DIY Tools for Men-Men won't know they need screw extractor set until they have one! This screw extractor set is GIFTS WRAP AVAILABLE, can be gifted to your loved ones as it reflects a fresh trend with fun and practical. Amazing and Unique tool gifts for men women. The must have stocking stuffers for men, gifts for dad, husband, father, him, guy teens, adult, Boyfriend, son on Birthdays, Christmas, Fathers Day or anniversary. Perfect Holiday Gifts Guide
- HIGH QUALITY - This damaged screw remover tool kit is made from High-Speed Steel H.S.S 4341# , which have high hardness of 63hrc, it's durable and easily to remove any damaged screws.
- EASY TO USE: Just two simple steps to get the job done - drill a hole with a cutting size using the right size screw extractor and easily remove the screw or bolt using the removal tool Hardness 63-65HRC: Titanium hardened steel material, more durable than most screw extractors on the market, better hardness and durability than others, buy with confidence and complete peace of mind
- Cool Gadgets for Men Dad Christmas Birthday Gifts for Men and Women - Men won't know they need screw extractor sets until they have one! Every screw has the potential to rust and break, which can create a situation where it cannot be removed. Owning it, there will be no anxiety about rusty screws. This screw extractor set is GIFTS WRAP AVAILABLE, can be gifted to your loved ones as it reflects a fresh trend with fun and practical. Amazing and unique tool gifts for men women. A must have stocking stuffer for men on birthdays, Christmas, Father's Day or anniversaries, a gifts for dads, husbands, fathers, him, adults, boyfriends, sons. The best and most practical and surprising Christmas gifts
What is the main construction and stewardship lesson?
The Shanghai garden’s evolution shows that a roof terrace is not a one-time construction outcome. Its purpose moved from corporate events toward daily employee use and nature engagement, while the project’s experience exposed the pressures of summer heat, variable participation, water access, and weathering. Shade, movable furniture, resilient plants, composting, and organized participation helped support the revised vision, but none removed the need for continuing stewardship.
For owners and project teams, the strongest takeaway is to treat maintenance, governance, and replacement as part of the design brief. The case points toward a lower-intervention approach suited to demanding seasonal conditions, while also making clear that “lower intervention” is not “no maintenance.” And while the reported wildlife observations are encouraging, the project account should be cited as a qualitative case study—not as quantified proof of environmental performance.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchFrequently Asked Questions
Was the AECOM Shanghai roof garden open to the public?
The case account describes the space as the roof garden of AECOM’s Shanghai office and discusses employees and invited visitors, including a festival guest. It does not establish that the roof was generally open to the public.
Did the garden measurably reduce heat or manage stormwater?
The case narrative does not report monitored heat-reduction or stormwater-retention results. It describes design intent and practitioner observations, so those environmental outcomes should not be presented as measured project performance.
Can another project copy the AECOM garden’s plant list?
The account says the team used native and non-native plants to explore fit with Shanghai’s climate, but it does not provide a complete planting schedule in the material summarized here. Another roof would need a palette selected for its own local climate and exposure rather than treating this case as a transferable specification.
Who wrote the ASLA case study?
The Part 3 page identifies Lee Parks, an AECOM executive director and landscape architect based in Shanghai, and LIAO Jingjing, an AECOM landscape designer. Their account is therefore best understood as the project practitioners’ perspective, not an independent assessment.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute
