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Politics & Government

Brighton Business Leads Farmington Hills Green Roof Project

Led by Lindhout Associates, the recent Farmington Hills City Hall renovation relied on sustainable building practices.

There's a new way to tell it's summer -- flowers are in bloom on the roof of .

A sustainable building practice that is growing in popularity all over the world, the green roof is the liveliest element of city hall's recent $8 million eco-friendly renovation, and a Brighton business is responsible for it.

Boasting thick, green foliage all year, the roof bursts into a vibrant pink and yellow display in summer. But the showiness of the flowers is only one benefit of the building's living roof, as Steve Brock, Farmington Hills city manager, pointed out.

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“We love it,” Brock, who can see a portion of the roof from his office, said. “It's aesthetically pleasing, and it reduces costs.”

The public, which can view the roof from hallways and a terrace, also appreciates the building's green elements -- for personal and practical reasons, Brock said.

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In addition to having an increased lifespan and reinforced durability, the roof reduces heating and cooling costs by providing insulation in the winter and heat reflection in the summer. By filtering air and absorbing rainwater, the roof also decreases pollution and the need for a retention pond. It also requires minimal maintenance.

Although the living roof only makes up a portion of it, the entire roof of city hall incorporates green building materials, including solar panels and reflective white rubber panels. But the roof is just the beginning of a building design that promotes environmental sustainability and energy efficiency inside and out.

Lindhout Associates, the Brighton-based architecture and engineering firm that designed the building, incorporated a Solatube Daylighting System into the roof design, which funnels natural light into the building, eliminating the need for artificial light.

One of the first steps of the Lindhout Associates plan was to incorporate as much of the original building as possible.

“One of the greenest things you can do is use the existing structure,” said David A. Richardson, who headed the project for Lindhout Associates.

The current 52,000-square foot building is comprised of 60 percent renovated space and 40 percent new addition.

“We took a tight, low, dimly-lit space and made it bright, open, and welcoming to the community,” Richardson, who lives in Farmington, added.

Lindhout Associates, which has been in business for over 50 years, handles new construction and renovation projects in both the residential and commercial sectors. It took on the project after winning a green design competition hosted by the city of Farmington Hills. The US Green Building Council recently awarded the project Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification.

The firm has recently completed similar projects, including the renovations of the buildings that now comprise and in Brighton. Both projects incorporated reused and recycled materials.

In general, the firm has seen a rise in green building in recent years.

“People are seeing their gas and electric bills going up, and they're looking for alternatives,” Richardson said. “Energy efficiency makes sense for any business, school, or home. One of the first things to look at is lighting. Then insulation. Then the furnace and water heater.”

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