Studio Sustena supported the team in the design of the elevated landscape, which rolls uninterrupted from the surrounding park up and over the building. The Harlem Center green roof boasts 26,000 sf and was constructed to restore a seamless transition between the adjacent woodlands and open park. The green roof supports a grove of canopy trees interspersed with meadow and native shrubs for a natural landscape feel. An elegant and intentional appearance this design will unify the structure with the existing landscape. Our approach to planting and design seeks to uphold the integrity of this historic site. The plantings were selected with consideration of the native habitat of New York City as well as the aesthetic of the park itself.

Studio Sustena worked closely with the Central Park Conservancy optimizing soil depths, drainage design through the green roof system, tree stabilization, technical detailing site features such as irrigation design and planting support. The woody shrubs and tree plantings require specialty irrigation for the health of the green roof system. Studio Sustena also aided in the selection of non-standard site features such as the boulder placements and tree stabilization plans for the green roof as they relate to the sloped pitch of the roof, skylights, and pathway on the structure.