Ford Rouge Plant Living Roof

Of all the innovations coming out of the revitalization of the ford rouge center nothing has attracted more interest than the living roof now growing on top of the new dearborn truck plant final assembly building.

Ford rouge plant living roof. Planted with a drought resistant groundcover called sedum the living roof spans 454 000 square feet or 10 4 acres and it. Visit the legendary ford factory making america s most iconic truck the ford f 150 and experience the assembly plant walking tour innovation theatre and living roof. The soils and grasses that comprise functional living roofs absorb water just like the soil and plants in a healthy landscape. In 1999 architect william mcdonough entered into an agreement with ford motor company to redesign its 85 year old 1 212 acre 490 ha rouge river facility.

Installed in 2003 the living roof on top of ford s dearborn truck plant is flourishing as an environmental touchstone amid the iconic rouge center. A green roof was the most compelling solution to the stormwater problem at the rouge. Various plants insects and animals have come to depend on what is now a thriving ecosystem that equates to a 10 4 acre garden. The roof is covered with 10 4 acres of sedum a genus of perennial plants that tops a 3 in thick four layer system incorporating a root resistant membrane a drainage layer a fleece mat and a vegetation blanket see schematic.

Ten years post installation north america s largest living roof about the size of eight football fields continues to flourish atop dearborn truck plant s final assembly building part of the ford rouge center. Within five days of the roof going down local killdeere had nested and laid their eggs in the sedum. Ford rouge factory tour henry ford museum of american innovation and greenfield village. Last month unveiled a huge green roof at its new truck plant in dearborn mich.

One of the henry ford s 3 must see attractions.