Ten years after Ford planted vegetation atop a massive truck assembly plant, the largest living roof in the U.S. is flourishing and others have followed the automaker’s lead.
Ford was a pioneer a decade ago when it created a living roof on top of the Dearborn Truck Plant. It was a unique way to save on roofing materials and cooling costs while addressing water runoff and other ecological concerns.
“Ford was incredibly courageous and forward thinking when they evaluated and moved forward with a green roof,” said Clayton Rush, manager of Xero Flor America in Durham, N.C., whose parent company in Germany worked with Ford on the project. “They became a well-recognized pioneer.”
The success of the Dearborn truck plant roof prompted Ford to do more. A year ago, when a 2,500-square-foot portion of Ford headquarters needed to be redone, the automaker turned a second time to water absorbing plants.