A new 6.75-acre green roof atop New York City's Javits Center has become a habitat for nearly a dozen species of birds. In a study conducted in the spring and summer of 2014 by New York City Audubon and Fordham University, there were 524 bird sightings.
"With the installation of our green roof, we have created an oasis for the area's wildlife in an urban environment dominated by concrete and steel," said Alan Steel, president and CEO of the New York Convention Center Operating Corporation (NYCCOC), which operates the Javits Center. "For nearly 30 years, the Javits Center has sought to improve New York's economy, and now, we are working to improve the quality of life in the community around us."
According to the 2014 study, the birds most commonly using the green roof were herring gulls, European starlings, and barn swallows. The green roof also provides an appropriate habitat for insects and bats, exemplifying its unique status in such a dense urban setting.
"As the vegetation continues to thrive, more wildlife will find this valuable habitat up on the roof," said Kathryn Heintz, executive director, New York City Audubon. "The installation of the green roof was a large step in creating new habitat in a previously diminished urban environment."
Composed of layers of sedum, the green roof was installed as part of the Javits Center's comprehensive top-to-bottom renovation, which was completed last year. The green roof is equipped to collect as much as 6.8 million gallons of water a year, in an effort to reduce storm water runoff.
"Our research at Fordham University has confirmed that urban green roofs can successfully support wildlife, but we were surprised and delighted how quickly birds began utilizing the Javits Center green roof," said Fordham University Professor J. Alan Clark. "What is especially exciting about the Javits Center green roof is its sheer size."
Photo: David Sundberg/Esto