Studio Sustena’s design includes two important engineering components: 1) The first is a self-ballasted fall arrest system (developed by Diadem and available in the U.S. only through Studio Sustena), which utilizes discreet posts and infrastructure buried within the green roof. The system’s self-ballasted design eliminates the need for roof deck penetrations. While the system was designed in Europe, it successfully satisfies ANSI/ ASSE guidelines’ dynamic performance criteria for systems of this type. The individual components of the system have been tested to confirm that they can withstand a static force of 5,000 pounds without breaking.

2) The second is a slope stabilization system that accommodates the conference center roof’s rolling terrain. In most of the roof’s steeply pitched areas slope stabilization cleats hooked to ballasted Geogrid provide the necessary precaution. In areas where ballasting with the green roof media is not possible (due to the building’s geometry), the slope stabilization system is connected to the parapet.