An illustrated study of gardens built on the roofs of buildings traces the history of roof gardens, from the Hanging Gardens of Babylon to the present; explains how to construct safe, durable gardens; and offers tips on selecting plants, garden maintenance, and planting techniques.

For courses in Construction Methods and Materials, Commercial Construction, Residential Construction, and Roofing Design, in departments of Architecture, Architectural Engineering, and Construction Science/Management/Technology. Combining academic rigor with contemporary design practice, this is the first true text book on roofing design, and the only reference that comprehensively addresses all roof design issues. It provides necessary information on the suitability of various systems for specific projects, and offers students a greater knowledge that will enable them to prevent most roof failures and resulting disputes.

Green Roof Systems goes beyond the fashionable green roof movement and provides solid information on building accessible space, often as important public space, over structure. It offers brief coverage of the entire process, including planning and collaboration, and focuses on the technical aspects of these roof systems, their components, and their applications.

Projects and award-winners: Solaire Building, Island House, North Beach Place, Yorktowne Square Condominiums, Eastern Village Co-Housing Condominiums, Seapointe Village Deck Restoration, 10th@ Hoyt Apartments, Lot 8 Santa Lucia Preserve, The Louisa, Ducks Unlimited National Headquarters & Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Convention Center, Oaklyn Library, Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library, The Green Institute (Phillips Eco-Enterprise Center), Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, Nashville Public Square, Sanitation District No.1, 901 Cherry St., Montgomery Park, Garden Room, Burnham Park, Ford Rouge Dearborn Truck Plant, Millennium Park, Heinz 57 Center, 601 Congress Street, ABN AMRO Plaza, Calamos Investments.

Das Flachdach – dieser bei Architekten beliebte und gerne als fünfte Fassade beschriebene Gebäudeteil – sollte im Wesentlichen den darunter liegenden Raum vor Witterungseinflüssen schützen. Darüber hinaus optimiert die Integration flacher Dächer als Gründach, Dachterrasse, Verkehrsfläche oder gar als ertragreiches Solardach den Nutzen. Die fachgerechte Realisierung in der Praxis ist jedoch anspruchsvoll: der „Flachdach Atlas“ verschafft dem Planer neben grundsätzlichen Konstruktionsregeln einen Überblick über die Nutzungs- und Konstruktionsarten sowie die Regelaufbauten für Flachdächer. Zusammen mit den wichtigsten Normen und Regelwerken runden Konstruktionsdarstellungen der wesentlichen Anschlusspunkte die Publikation ab.