Podcast With Dr. Karen Liu
By Cristina Senjug, Partnership Manager, Next Level Stormwater Management
Listen to what gives Karen Liu “green roof goosebumps”?
Living Architecture Monitor’s (LAM’s) Sustainable Futures podcast features an in‑depth, personal conversation between host Steven Peck and Dr. Karen Liu, Green Roof Specialist at Next Level Stormwater Management, who is one of Canada’s most influential figures in green roof research and design.
From National Research to Global Practice
Dr. Karen Liu has been conducting green roof research since 2000. Before joining the private sector, she was a lead researcher for the green roof programs at the National Research Council and the British Columbia Institute of Technology. She led research teams that instrumented and monitored green roofs across Ontario and British Columbia to evaluate water balance and stormwater performance. She was also a key participant in the research consortium that developed the first national wind testing standard for vegetated roofing, CSA A123.24.
How Early Mentors Shaped Karen’s Career
A pivotal chapter in her early professional life began in 2007, when she joined Xero Flor as Director of R&D for North America. It was there that she met industry pioneer Mr. Klaus Behrens of Xeroflor International Gmbh, whose influence helped define her approach to research, design, and responsible innovation. This formative relationship included collaboration with Xero Flor America and Xero Flor Canada, and led to vast practical experience working on hundreds of green roof projects across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Why This Podcast Matters for Green Infrastructure
The conversation moves fluidly between personal history and the pressing challenges our cities face today. Listeners will hear about:
• How Karen’s early life and early mentors shaped her passion for green roofs
• Findings that most surprised her from her decades of evolution of technical standards and why they matter
• Lessons from global design projects that push performance and resilience
• The importance of preparing the next generation of designers and installers
• How green roofs help cities manage water, reduce extreme heat, and reconnect people with nature
Why you’ll want to listen
Karen’s career spans research, technical standards, and hands‑on design work across the world. Her ability to translate complex science into practical, actionable insights makes this episode especially valuable for practitioners, policymakers, and anyone invested in greener, more resilient cities.
If you’re interested in how green roofs can meaningfully improve stormwater management, mitigate extreme heat, and strengthen our connection to natural systems, this conversation is a must‑listen.
Dr. Karen Liu
Next Level Stormwater Management
Dr. Karen Liu has been conducting green roof research since 2000. Before joining the private sector, Karen was a lead researcher of the green roof programs at the National Research Council and the British Columbia Institute of Technology.
She led the research teams to instrument and monitor various green roofs in Ontario and British Columbia to evaluate their water balance and examine their potential in stormwater management. Karen was a key participant in the research consortium that developed the first national wind testing standard for vegetated roofing CSA A123.24.
Steven Peck, GRP, HASLA
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
Steven spearheaded the first green roof demonstration project on Toronto City Hall 20 years ago and the mandatory green roof policy in Toronto a decade ago. This innovative policy has resulted in more than 6 million additional square feet of green space across the city.
Due to Steven’s work, GRHC has helped to win green roof policy victories in San Francisco, Washington, DC; Portland, Oregon; and Denver, Colorado. In 2007 he co-founded the World Green Infrastructure Network, an international organization that promotes the use of green infrastructure around the world.
Supplier of 2.5 Million SQFT Coast-to-Coast
Next Level Stormwater Management (NLSM) is Canada’s leading supplier of high performance rooftop retention and detention solutions such as LiteN’Less™, StormCap™, Alpine Meadow and SpongeBase™. NLSM’s team has more than 90 years of combined industry experience and service. Contact NLSM by email or phone (416) 637-5772.