Cold Climate Living Walls From Feasibility To RealityCommunities in BloomOctober 27, 2010Sue Sirrs Tim AmosOutside!Planning & Design Studio Nova Scotia Community CollegeAgendaProject background & feasibility studyTrials & ResearchMadeinNS exterior living wallDesign processNSCCImagesNOVA SCOTIA COMMUNITY COLLEGECentre for the Built EnvironmentInitial Concept Plan:7 exterior living walls2 interior living wallsGreen roof Feasibility Study 2007/08 Implementation Program 200810 Construction, May 2010Feasibility StudyFeasibility Study Looked at offtheshelf systems (2007) Wanted to engage NSCC Horticulture program didnt want preplanted systemsGLT SystemG-SkyPatrick BlancKey Recommendations & Observations1. Go ahead with interior biowalls & green roof. 2. Site is exceptionally harsh3. Phase exerior living wall to allow for research. eastfacing wall4. Involve Kingstec Horticulture in research: explore MadeinNS solution with hydroponic& soilbased systems plant selection plant propagation. Key Observations Contd.Stars aligned: Fits with project principles & values NSCC horticulture expertise Kingstec plans to develop programs Increased demand for living walls/green roofs & no Atlantic suppliers Money in the budgetMadeinNova Scotia SolutionNative & adapted species overwinter Mother Nature does it best Propagation is a challengeSite & Climate Conditions High winds Multiple freeze/thaw Cycles Frozen fog Horizontal rain Salt spray Ice & Snow Low light conditions N & E walls High winds hurricane & post tropical stormsBenefits of Living Walls Education demonstrates alternative building technologies Energy savings Protects exterior wall from UV rays, pollutants & weather Cleans air and CO2 fixation Stormwater attenuation Moderates microclimate Mitigates urban heat island effect Buffers noise, vibration Graffiti reduction Provides habitat Wow! factorTrialsImplementation StudyJuly 2008 to 2010Guiding Principles Free lateral root run Year round interest Deep rooting plants Plant succession Encouragement of moss & related plant groups Diversity of plant species Active mycorrihizal soil community Double planting broadleaf evergreen understory with herbaceous perenialsPlantsCreating Biodiversity.. Texture.Winter Interest.Medicinal /Bird AttractorsLiving Wall TrialsHydroponicTrials1. Exterior hydroponic wall (overwinter 2008/2009) 2. Interior hydroponic wall (2009/2010) SoilBased Trials(overwinter 2009/2010) 3. 12 x 12 baskets4. Tournesol premanufactured structural system)5. 4 x 4 steel baskets manufactured for trialTest Cubes Halifax (6a), Kentville (5b)Exterior Hydroponic TrialInterior Hydroponic TrialSoilbased Trial 1:12 x 12 x 6 Basket Soilbased Trial 2: Tournesol Basket Soilbased Trial 3:4 x 4 x 6 BasketsTrials:Seasonal VariationTrials: OverWinteringMadeinNS SolutionMadeinNovaScotia Living WallElements to Consider Structure Irrigation Growing medium Plants: selection, propagation, transport Nutrients Construction structural work & planting crew very different Installation75 long by 12 high x 10 deep100 stainless steel basketsStructure & growing medium installed in Dec. 2010Plants installed May 2010Plants Grown at Kingstec CampusTransported to sitePlanted directly into the wallPlanting Plan Transferred to WallIrrigation 100% Roof WaterIrrigationTwo SystemsPrimary April to Oct.Winter Backup Nov. to MarchNSCCKingstecR&D FacilitiesStudent InvolvementPlanting TeamStudent Involvement Plant collection, documentation, ID propagation, scheduling, inventories, etc. Greenhouse management Equipment scheduling Cold house management Alternate growing methodsExperiments with propagation vessels, cold frames, etc. Construction of prototypes Project has become the focus for program Student internship Coop CreditPropagation Skills24 Species 10,000 PlantsDesign Concept Influenced by natural elements waves, rock, glaciation, transition. Guided by plant numbers & wanting textural variation & contrast traditional design considerations. Spitfire Arms Pub October 2010July 1, 2010July 28, 2010August 2010September 2010NSCC Exterior Living WallSue Sirrs Tim AmosOutside! PlanningNSCC Kingstec& Design Studio HorticultureOnSite Nursery Garden Intended for plant replacement Became a good tool to compare how plants performed on the wall and in the groundVolunteer Plants Blackberry family Clematis Strawberries Birch Red maple Rush Rose Barnyard grassKey Messages Free lateral root run Dedicated care Maintenance Manual Plant diversity is key Some installations will be more successful than others were all still learning The wall will transition each season just like a garden Match wall to right site, management & conditionsLiving Wall Team Tim Amos NSCC Sue Sirrs Outside! Planning & Design Studio Barrie and Langille architects in association with Moriyama & Toshima architects toronto BMR Structural Engineering structural Costello Fitt project management Ellis Don construction Rousseau Irrigation CherubiniWeve just begun