Rendering of Lace Elementary school
Lace Elementary Awarded $90,000 Grant for Green Roof

Darien, Ill. (May 28, 2008) — Wight & Company, an architecture, construction and engineering firm at the forefront of sustainable design, is pleased to announce that its client, Lace Elementary School in Darien, Ill., was awarded a $90,154 grant from the DuPage County Stormwater Committee for its construction of a green roof and rain garden. The 2,800 square-foot garden roof will help protect the environment and is part of a building redevelopment project now being implemented by Wight & Company for the Darien School District.

Lace Elementary intends to make the project an environmental showcase for students, visitors and the community. The Green roof and rain garden will provide students a chance to understand that rainwater is a resource and not a waste product. Rainwater lands on a green roof, if the rain is not absorbed and evaporated by the plants and soil, it will come down to the ground and channel back into the earth within a rain garden, cooling, cleaning and evaporating the water even further.

"All grade levels of the science arena will become stronger due to the design and construction of the green roof and rain garden project,” Jim Zay (District 6), Chairman of the County’s Stormwater Committee. “This project will provide Lace School’s “go-green” after school environmental club with additional opportunities for environmental learning and stewardship.”

Since the green roof and rain garden will absorb and filter rain water, the project contributes to the County’s goal for stormwater management—reducing the quantity and improving the quality of the water. The green roof also will save energy by keeping the building warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

"Our district believes that education should prepare young people to be responsible citizens, and we think it’s important to lead by example,” said Chip Johnson, Superintendent of Schools for Darien Public Schools District #61. “Our vision is to have a green roof on each of our elementary school buildings, and this grant moves us closer to making this a reality. The teaching and learning opportunities are endless for our students.”

“The green roof is a visible way for Lace Elementary to show the community the benefits of going green,” said Rich Carlson, AIA, LEED AP, Wight’s Group President of Architecture. “It’s not only a great educational tool, but also will help the district reduce maintenance and energy costs.”

The green roof will be built above the school’s entryway and is expected to be completed by summer.



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