Green Roof + Deck

Living Roof, Living Space

Chicago requires green roof coverage on many new builds, but that does not mean sacrificing usable outdoor space. This package integrates planted areas with hardscape zones so you get stormwater management credits, urban heat island reduction, and a rooftop you can actually use for dining, lounging, and entertaining. Sedum mats and deeper planting beds frame decked areas where furniture, grills, and foot traffic belong.

The structural and drainage engineering differs substantially from either a stand-alone deck or a pure green roof. Living roof sections carry saturated soil loads upward of twenty-five pounds per square foot; deck areas need different waterproofing, slope, and edge details. We design integrated systems where water drains through planted sections, filters naturally, and exits through shared collection points—eliminating the patchwork problems of retrofitted combinations.

Our landscape architects work alongside our structural engineers from the first concept sketch. You end up with plant selections suited to Chicago winters, irrigation tied into building systems, and decking materials that complement rather than compete with the greenery.