GreenSage E-zine 05/2008

Living Roofs for San Francisco's MUNI This Year?

Even when Richard Parker is working hard, he makes it look fun. As an architect, he designs buildings for a living. However, the way he fully engages his clients in the creation process is practically irresistible. The way his firm, 450 Architects, advocates for sustainable building codes on a state and local levels is extremely commendable.

450 Architects, founded by Parker and business partner David Bushnell in 1995, works exclusively on sustainable projects. Over the past 12 years, they have built award-winning retail spaces, public schools and private homes. Due to the lack of sustainable building codes, 450 Architects have become active advocates supporting the implementation of green building codes on both the local and state level. In 2003, they initiated standardization of residential solar panel installation guidelines in San Francisco. The guidelines are established now, essentially saving homeowners upwards of $2,000 on typical solar panel building permits.

At the 2007 West Coast Green Tradeshow in San Francisco, Parker presented 450's latest advocacy project: Green Roofs. Parker's prototype of the MUNI living roof was displayed on the back of his pick up truck, inspiring a crowd to begin chanting: "We want green roofs!" Similar to 450 Architects' work with solar panel installation, this project is based on establishing standardized building guidelines for green or 'living' roofs. Living roofs not only provide wildlife habitat and beautiful plantings, they also help reduce greenhouse gases and pollution. Parker is working with the San Francisco Parks Trust on a city-wide project installing living roofs on all MUNI bus shelters. The first green roof bus shelter is in front of the SF Main Library.

450 Architects has a strong track record as a pioneer firm in the sustainable building industry. In 1998, they designed the first public school in San Francisco with building-integrated solar panels. The unique and brilliant design of the combined solar panels and skylights developed for Argonne Child Development Center put 450 Architects on the map. Solar panels were integrated into skylights, flooding interior spaces with natural light as well as providing power to the school. Incorporating education into their design work is also key to both Bushnell and Parker. In the main hallway, children can see the solar energy working, experiencing at an early age that the sun provides energy.

Phyllis Matsuno, Principal at Sherman Elementary School, was impressed with the way Parker diplomatically worked with the entire community in a school modernization project. 450 Architects effectively transformed the largest schoolyard at Sherman Elementary from toxic, cracked asphalt to an island of green, rolling hills. They brought nature into the city school yard with a small stream, waterfall, fish, boulders for sunning, and edible gardens — essentially creating a living classroom and transforming the education curriculum at Sherman Elementary. One of their current projects, designed by Bushnell, is the San Francisco Waldorf High School, a high-performance school facility with state-of-the-art science, art and teaching classrooms in West Portal. The school will be the first LEED Gold certified high school in San Francisco.

Ultimately, 450 Architects make it easier for others to build and develop green. They volunteer as sustainable advocates and work with legislators and building officials to adapt sustainable building codes for those who follow. In Sausalito, California, Bushnell designed a sustainable home with a 6,000-gallon rainwater harvesting cistern, the first of it's kind in Marin county. In standard 450 Architect style, other home owners can now follow and take advantage of 450's pioneering advocacy and architecture.

Check out the MUNI Green Roof Bus Shelter Pilot Program at http://www.sfpt.org. The Green Roof Bus Shelter Group is a collaborative of architects and green roof enthusiasts who propose to install a living green roof on the top of a bus shelter in San Francisco for a three month pilot program. Their mission is to educate the public about the many environmental benefits of green roofs, as well as improve urban air quality and provide attractive waiting spaces for public transit users. The group will be tracking public comments through MTA’s website.