Garden roofs, also known as green (or eco) roofs, are an exciting trend in the A/E industry, showing up on projects around the country, including the Seattle Civic Center, Latter-day Saints Conference Center (Salt Lake City), and The Gap Headquarters (San Bruno, Calif.).

Though some may view it as an emerging trend, green roofs have a long and established history. Our Babylonian ancestors installed elaborate vegetated roofs in the terraced structures of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, built around 500 B.C., which is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Early 20th century installations include New York City’s Rockefeller Center (1930s), Frank Lloyd Wright’s Guggenheim Museum (1950s) and Madison Square Garden (1920s).

Like so many technologies, green roof engineering has vastly improved over time, allowing the industry to migrate to more modern garden roofs. And in fact, our condensed, gridlocked cities could use it. Viewed from above, most highly populated areas bare testament to the imbalanced environment we function in every day, an environment dominated by concrete, steel and asphalt with barely a hint of green.