PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Hilton Downtown Riverside hotel is located in a 29-story, 341 ft-tall skyscraper and is the largest hotel in New Orleans with 1,700 rooms. In an effort to increase the sustainability of its operations, the Hilton has tasked Marais with providing structural and drainage design services required for the development of a green roof on the 6th floor roof of the parking garage.
Developed alongside local landscape architects and sustainability specialists, the design will feature native plant species interspersed throughout to attract and support pollinators, cut down on maintenance, and reduce irrigation requirements. Marais is also analyzing the existing structure to determine the additional load capacity for green roof elements with a combination of interpreting existing structural drawings and field measurements.
Utilizing the existing roof, the site will be covered with vegetation and a growing medium equipped with a drainage and irrigation system. The installation will provide many benefits including stormwater retention to reduce runoff, mitigation of urban “heat island” effect, air quality improvement, increased energy efficiency, and green recreation space.