October 2009
Toronto is now 835 square metres greener thanks to the new garden roof recently unveiled at Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) Eglinton West subway station.
Halcrow Yolles served as environmental building consultants, and is currently reviewing the feasibility of installing green roofs at other TTC sites.
The Eglinton West roof will capture and absorb storm water, reduce urban heat island effects and prolong the roof membrane’s lifespan by protecting it from weathering. According to a life cycle analysis performed by Halcrow Yolles, this durability will result in net savings for the TTC.
The plant selected for the project was the hearty sedum, which requires little water and provides a ‘green carpet’ look when not in bloom, giving motorists and transit users a more pastoral view as they pass through Toronto’s bustling mid-town.
The over 70,000 sedums that blanket the station’s roof are divided into 5,000 pre-vegetated modules and laid out in evenly spaced rows of rectangles framed by gravel walkways for easy access and care.
The Halcrow Yolles team ensured that subway service remained uninterrupted during the roof’s construction and created a design that complements the existing architectural features of Eglinton West, which was originally built in 1978.
Installed by Gardens in the Sky, the Eglinton West green roof is the first of its kind on TTC property and adds to Toronto’s existing 200 rooftop green spaces.