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The Chicago Blackhawks Training Facility in Chicago is the project behind the “garden roof atop a metal roof deck” description. Completed in 2017, it used an extensive vegetated roof designed for Chicago’s climate and the building’s structural limits. American Hydrotech’s project record lists 21,050 square feet of extensive Garden Roof plus 2,675 square feet of Ultimate Assembly; a contemporaneous Building Enclosure article describes approximately 24,000 square feet of green roof overall. Those figures describe slightly different scopes, so they should not be treated as one exact measured area.
The project demonstrates that a green roof can be installed over a metal deck, but it does not mean every existing metal deck can accept one. The waterproofing, drainage, growing-media depth, plant palette, irrigation, slope and structural capacity have to be designed as one assembly.
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What building has a garden roof over a metal roof deck?
The building is the Chicago Blackhawks Training Facility, also called the Chicago Blackhawks Community Training Center. It is in Chicago, Illinois, and was completed in 2017. The facility was described as a 125,000-square-foot training center with two full-size ice rinks plus community recreation and event space. The roof was part of the project’s sustainability strategy.
| Project fact | Reported detail |
|---|---|
| Owner | Blackhawks Community Ice Rink, LLC |
| Architect | HOK Inc. |
| Landscape designer | Christy Webber Landscapes |
| Contractor | James McHugh Construction |
| Completion | 2017 |
| Hydrotech project-record area | 23,725 square feet total: 21,050 square feet extensive Garden Roof and 2,675 square feet Ultimate Assembly |
| Trade-article description | Approximately 24,000 square feet of green roof |
| Deck | Metal roof deck |
American Hydrotech’s project record explicitly confirms “Metal Deck: Yes.” The same record identifies the extensive roof as using GR15 and carpet products, while the project article identifies a 6125 Monolithic Membrane and the extensive Garden Roof assembly.
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How large was the Chicago green roof?
The answer depends on which source and scope is being quoted. Hydrotech reports a total project size of 23,725 square feet, divided into 21,050 square feet of extensive Garden Roof and 2,675 square feet of Ultimate Assembly. The 2017 Building Enclosure article rounds the green roof to approximately 24,000 square feet.
Rounding explains most of the difference, but the labels also matter. “Extensive Garden Roof” is not necessarily the same scope as “green roof overall,” and the Ultimate Assembly is listed separately in the manufacturer’s record. For specifications, bids or regulatory documents, use the area and assembly designation on the project drawings rather than copying a rounded article figure.
What was planted on the extensive roof?
The extensive portion used InstaGreen Sedum Carpet. The project description says the carpet contained nine to 15 different Sedum species and provided almost 95 percent coverage at installation. That is an installation description, not a long-term survey: the reviewed sources do not report survival rates, seasonal coverage measurements or a maintenance audit years after completion.
Sedum is commonly selected for extensive roofs because low-growing succulent plants can tolerate periods of heat and limited moisture once established. The exact species mix, rooting performance and winter behavior still depend on the local microclimate, media, exposure and irrigation plan. A sedum mat is a planting component; it is not, by itself, a waterproofing or drainage system.
How does a garden roof sit on a metal deck?
A vegetated roof does not place soil directly on bare steel. It is a layered roof-and-landscape assembly that must keep water out of the building, move excess water to drains and distribute the weight safely to the structure.
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The manufacturer’s Garden Roof Assembly brochure depicts layers that can include, from top to bottom:
- Vegetation, such as sedum or other approved plants.
- Growing media or engineered substrate.
- A filter layer that limits migration of fine particles.
- Drainage and water-storage components.
- Insulation, where required by the roof design.
- Root-control protection.
- Waterproofing, including the specified membrane system.
- The structural roof deck, in this case metal deck supported by the building frame.
The order and exact products are project-specific. Penetrations, perimeter edges, expansion joints, drains, overflow paths, parapets and transitions to adjacent roof areas are as important as the planted field. A roof can have healthy plants and still fail if the membrane detailing or drainage path is wrong.
What does the metal deck change in the design?
Metal decking can provide a practical structural substrate, but the deck profile, gauge, span, support spacing, fasteners, deflection limits and corrosion protection all affect whether a vegetated assembly is feasible. The plants and saturated media add permanent dead load; retained water, snow, maintenance workers and temporary construction materials add additional load cases.
Hydrotech’s project description says the components and plant material were selected for Chicago’s climate and the facility’s structural limitations. That wording is important: the Blackhawks facility is evidence of a system engineered for one building, not proof that an existing warehouse or arena deck can carry the same roof.
Before selecting plants or ordering trays, an owner needs a structural engineer and a roofing/enclosure designer to verify the deck and supporting frame. The review should include saturated media weight, drainage congestion, snow and rain loads, wind uplift, seismic requirements where applicable, construction staging and access for future repairs. If the existing drawings are incomplete, field verification and selective investigation may be necessary.
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How much growing media does an extensive roof need?
The brochure gives a typical extensive-media depth of three to six inches. It also cautions that depth and weight vary by region and assembly. A deeper profile generally stores more water and supports a broader plant palette, but it increases dead load and can change drainage, edge detailing and maintenance requirements.
Depth should therefore be specified by the roof designer, not chosen from a generic sedum recommendation. The calculation should use the saturated, not merely dry, weight of the complete assembly. Areas around drains, walk pads, roof hatches and equipment may require different build-ups from the planted field.
What benefits did the project description report?
The project description says the assembly could capture more than 1.5 inches of water on the roof. It also presents stormwater management, air purification and reduction of the urban heat-island effect as benefits of the green roof.
Those are claims made in the project materials. The reviewed sources do not provide an independent monitoring program, measurement period, rainfall dataset or methodology for calculating annual runoff reduction, energy savings or air-quality improvement. They also do not report the project’s cost or a long-term maintenance record. The 1.5-inch figure should therefore be read as a design or project-description claim, not as a verified annual performance result.
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What is the difference between an extensive and an intensive green roof?
An extensive roof is generally lighter and planted with hardy, low-growing species; an intensive roof uses deeper media and can support a wider range of plants or designed landscape features. The choice affects structural load, irrigation, maintenance and whether people are expected to occupy the roof.
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| Decision factor | Extensive assembly | More intensive assembly |
|---|---|---|
| Media and load | Typically shallower and lighter, but saturated weight still requires structural design. | Deeper and heavier; structural demands rise with depth, trees, paving or retained water. |
| Plant range | Hardy, low-growing plants such as sedum are typical. | Broader planting choices, potentially including shrubs or other landscape plants. |
| Use | Generally intended as a roof system, not a recreational surface. | Can be designed as an amenity landscape, subject to access and safety design. |
| Maintenance | Manufacturer guidance describes minimal maintenance after establishment, but inspections and weed, drain and plant care remain necessary. | Requires regular landscape maintenance, irrigation management and more frequent inspections. |
| Water strategy | Drainage and storage are tuned to a lighter profile; permanent irrigation is highly recommended by the brochure. | Greater storage potential may come with greater irrigation demand and more complex drainage. |
These are design tendencies, not guarantees. A shallow roof can still be heavy when saturated, and an intensive roof is not automatically a public terrace. The intended use and local code requirements must be established before the assembly is selected.
How should a similar metal-deck green roof be planned?
A comparable project should be treated as an integrated structural, roofing and landscape job. The following sequence helps prevent a planting decision from driving an unsuitable roof build-up.
- Define the purpose. Decide whether the roof is for stormwater management, visual amenity, habitat, energy goals or regular occupant access. An extensive roof is normally not a recreational space.
- Document the existing roof. Gather deck profiles, spans, support locations, membrane history, insulation, drains, parapets, penetrations and roof access. Verify unknown conditions in the field.
- Set structural load cases. Have the engineer calculate the complete saturated assembly, snow, rainwater accumulation, wind, construction loads and maintenance access. Check the deck and the supporting steel or concrete frame, not just the deck sheet.
- Choose the roof assembly. Coordinate waterproofing, root control, insulation, drainage, filter fabric, media depth and edge restraints. Confirm compatibility of the membrane and protection layers.
- Design water movement. Locate primary drains, overflows, inspection chambers and maintenance paths. Make sure the roof can drain when media is saturated and that blocked outlets do not trap water against the membrane.
- Select plants for the site. Match the species and pre-grown carpet or tray system to Chicago’s exposure, wind, shade, winter conditions and media depth. Confirm establishment watering and replacement procedures.
- Detail access and safety. Provide routes to drains and equipment, fall protection, walk pads where needed, parapet protection and separation from rooftop mechanical systems.
- Plan establishment care. The brochure highly recommends permanent irrigation. Set inspection frequency, watering controls, weed removal, drain cleaning, fertilizer policy and procedures for replacing failed plants.
- Coordinate construction sequencing. Protect the membrane from trades, inspect waterproofing before covering it, test drainage paths and install media and vegetation only after the roof is ready to receive them.
Does an extensive roof require irrigation?
Hydrotech’s brochure highly recommends permanent irrigation, even though it describes maintenance as minimal after establishment. “Minimal” does not mean maintenance-free. Newly installed plants need reliable establishment watering, and drought, unusual heat, wind exposure or roof geometry can create dry zones later.
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An irrigation design should identify water source, controls, freeze protection, backflow requirements, pressure, coverage and access for repair. Watering should not hide drainage defects or substitute for the correct media and plant selection. The owner should also budget for inspections after major storms and for keeping drains, overflows and inspection chambers clear.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What are the most common mistakes?
- Assuming the deck is strong enough. A metal deck that carries a conventional roof may not carry saturated media, snow and retained water.
- Quoting one area without defining scope. The 21,050-square-foot extensive area, 2,675-square-foot Ultimate Assembly and approximately 24,000-square-foot overall description are related but not interchangeable.
- Treating sedum carpet as the whole roof. Plants do not replace waterproofing, root control, drainage, filter layers or structural design.
- Ignoring edge and penetration details. Leaks commonly become difficult to locate when vegetation and media cover poorly detailed transitions.
- Designing for dry weight only. Saturated media and stored water govern important load cases.
- Eliminating irrigation because the roof is “low maintenance.” Establishment and drought response still need a documented water plan.
- Promising measured performance from promotional claims. The project sources do not establish annual runoff savings, energy savings or long-term coverage.
- Allowing unrestricted foot traffic. Extensive assemblies are generally not intended for recreation; provide designed walk pads and access routes instead.
What does the Chicago project prove—and what does it not prove?
It proves that an extensive garden roof can be detailed above a metal roof deck in a large Chicago building when the assembly is matched to climate, structure and envelope requirements. It also provides a concrete example of sedum carpet planting, separate roof assembly scopes and a manufacturer-documented metal-deck installation.
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It does not prove that every metal deck is suitable, that the same media depth or plant mix will work on another building, or that the reported water-capture and environmental benefits have been independently measured. Those questions require project-specific engineering, specifications and, if performance matters, a monitoring plan.
For owners considering a similar roof, the most transferable lesson is the coordination method: verify the structure first, design the waterproofing and drainage as a continuous system, select vegetation for the actual exposure, and provide access and irrigation for the roof’s entire service life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an existing metal-deck roof be converted without removing the current membrane?
Sometimes, but the decision depends on the membrane’s condition, compatibility with root-control and protection layers, drainage height, insulation strategy and the deck’s verified capacity. An enclosure consultant should evaluate moisture and adhesion conditions before an overbuild is specified; a new planted layer should never conceal an unresolved leak.
Is a sedum carpet the same as a modular green-roof tray?
No. A sedum carpet is a pre-grown vegetation product, while a tray is a containerized modular assembly that can include drainage, media and plants. The project used InstaGreen Sedum Carpet on its extensive area, and the manufacturer brochure separately discusses a GT-4 tray for modular applications.
Can people walk on the Chicago Blackhawks roof?
The available project descriptions do not identify it as a public roof terrace. Extensive systems are generally intended for environmental and roof functions rather than regular recreation, so any required access should be limited to designed walk pads, maintenance routes and protected service areas.
What documentation should an owner request before approving a green roof over steel decking?
Request structural calculations for saturated conditions, roof and membrane details, drainage and overflow plans, product data, fire and code documentation, planting and irrigation specifications, maintenance requirements and warranties. The submittal should also identify every roof area by assembly type so extensive and Ultimate scopes are not mixed in the quantity takeoff.
