S&W was contracted to build the green roof as part of their “Innovation Pavilion”, a separate structure that includes other sustainable features such as a solar garden with photovoltaic panels and a geothermal field that uses the earth’s consistent soil temperature to increase heating and cooling efficiency in the building.

The design of the pavilion was very unique – full of sharp angles and curves which made our work slightly more challenging, but ultimately very rewarding. Safety, as always when working on a project like this, was a primary concern for our crew as the roof had low walls around the perimeter, therefore we had to take extra precaution to protect our workers from falling off the roof at all times. We accomplished this by installing a clamp-on guardrail system around the perimeter of the roof.

When creating a green roof, the most critical step is laying down the roof membrane with zero mistakes. In this case, the membrane was going to protect hundreds of thousands of dollars in high-end furniture, fixtures, and finishes contained below in the multi-million dollar structure. We began by installing a hot-applied rubber roofing membrane over the existing concrete roof deck. 

A 215-mil, reinforced, hot rubberized asphalt membrane has distinct advantages over a conventional roof membrane. This roof is typically installed at 3 to 4 times the thickness of standard roofs and has been detailed several times during the installation, thus eliminating future problems. It also has an added benefit to be the only membrane designed and promoted to last for the life of the structure. 

Once the membrane was installed and double-checked for quality and effectiveness, we then layered that with insulation, a drainage layer, and finally a filter fabric. Our landscaped contractor then put in the irrigation, soil and plantings, which offered the owner a system warranty or a warranty from the top of the structural concrete to the top of the landscaping. It is installed directly to the structural substrate with the insulation, soil and plantings set up over the top. That greatly reduces both the thermal movement and stresses of typical membrane roof assemblies. Additionally, the system warranty is not affected by “ponded” water on the system. 

One of the other challenges we had to address during the project concerned unusual and project specific detailing. The building addition that makes up the pavilion was built adjacent to the main building but is separated by an expansion joint. Our work involved installing flexible flashing from the addition to the main building, making it water tight but still allowing for independent movement of the two structures. Our expert field technicians did an outstanding job with this part of the job.

The finished product has received rave reviews from the client as well as other companies, clients and consultants that have seen the building in Overland Park. Our finished product stands out not only for its beauty, but for the benefits it provides Black and Veatch in particular, and the metropolitan area in general. 

For Black and Veatch, the green roof helps contribute LEED credits for storm water design and heat island effects. Despite some cynicism in some parts of the business world about the efficacy of green roofs in the past, over the last five to ten years, there is more than enough data to show the incredible cost savings a properly installed green roof provides, like the one S&W Waterproofing did. 

Saying that the “time was right”, S&W owner and president, Bob Svoboda, okayed the installation of solar panels at the S&W facility in an effort to save money and also to “slow down or stop emissions and pollution for us, our children and grandchildren” said Bob in an interview for this article.  S&W’s installation of green roofs for our clients over the years has proven the positive effect going green can have on businesses.  Not just from a morale standpoint, but from the enormous impact on the bottom line.

Taking point on the project, Bob contacted the city and Kansas City Power and Light (KCP&L) to begin the application process to have the solar panels installed.  Ironically, “the application process probably took the longest amount of time.” Bob laughed. “Once the city inspected and approved the installation, KCP&L was then notified to switch out the meters and we then went live. I would say that from the initial planning to design, through installation and final inspection [of the panels], to installing new meters and then [going] live took between 4 and 5 months.”

Though Bob personally kept watch over the entire process (“I was the proud PM, negotiator, special inspector and the one who wrote the checks!” said Bob), S&W contracted the design and installation through KCP&L Solar, which is an independent company from KCP&L.  KCP&L Solar utilized independent sub-contractors for their design and installation.

And now that they’re installed?  Bob reports that they expect to save at least 25% in energy costs annually and that the project should pay for itself within 12 to 14 months.  Between available incentives from both the federal government and KCP&L – and a business credit from KCP&L for the energy they don’t use because of the panels – Bob is thrilled with the results.

“It’s an investment in our future” he said.