Boston, MA
Higher Ground Farm, Boston Design Center
Scope/Solutions
Located on Boston Design Center’s roof, Higher Ground Farm is an urban garden offering a variety of local produce to the Seaport District neighborhood. SGH evaluated the existing roof structure to determine its adequacy to support the 14,000 sq ft rooftop farm.
SGH analyzed the existing roof structure and determined the structure could adequately support the proposed garden. As part of our evaluation, we considered the effects of different growing seasons and the impact of seasonal loads, such as snow.
Working closely with our client and the contractor, SGH helped develop a layout and set parameters that they could implement to safely construct and operate their farm. Highlights of our layout design include the following:
- Locating planting beds to avoid damming or blocking roof drains
- Establishing a planting arrangement to fit within the capacity of the existing roof
- Strategically placing planting beds based on their weight to maximize the usable rooftop space
Photo courtesy of Recover Green Roofs, LLC
Photo courtesy of Recover Green Roofs, LLC
Photo courtesy of Recover Green Roofs, LLC
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Project Summary
2013
Completion Date
Solutions
New Construction
Services
Structures | Performance & Code Consulting
Markets
Culture & Entertainment
Specialized Capabilities
Risk & Resilience Assessment
Key team members
Greggrey Cohen
Managing Principal, Structural Repair and Rehabilitation, Boston
Additional Projects
Northeast
9 Ash Street
Designed by Philip Johnson, the house at 9 Ash Street was his Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD) thesis project. SGH served as the structural engineer of record and building enclosure consultant for a two-phase stabilization and renovation of this iconic modernist house.
Northeast
Boston Convention and Exhibition Center Marquee
The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA) wanted a new marquee at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCECAs the prime consultant, SGH designed the marquee structure located along the Summer Street entrance.