Tag: landscapearchitecture
Retrofit Your Building With a Green Roof
By Cristina Senjug, Partnership Manager, Next Level Stormwater Management
Homeowners Can Shape the Future,
Build Resiliency
When we talk about building a more resilient, sustainable city, it’s easy to picture large infrastructure projects or sweeping policy changes. But some of the most powerful climate solutions are within reach of homeowners, right now. A green roof is a simple yet transformative step you can take, turning the space atop the home you already own into living, breathing green infrastructure.
Transformed for Climate Resilience
In dense urban centres like Toronto and Vancouver, every square metre of green space counts. One of the most inspiring things about green roofs is that they’re not limited to new construction. Many existing buildings, from single-family homes to commercial properties, can be retrofitted to support a green roof. With the right design and structural assessment, your current roof can become a thriving ecosystem. Next Level Stormwater Management has a variety of green roof systems to choose from to suit your structure and design goals. Most popular is our lightweight, economical LiteN’Less® system which is easy, quick and clean to install and maintain. Often, BioBerms® with additional native plants can be added to this soilless system.
Whether it’s the extensive, soilless system or an intensive biodiverse system such as the Alpine Meadow or Flora Garden, all of NLSM’s green roofs provide a basket of benefits that will increase your daily enjoyment, property value and contribute to a healthier and more resilient environment.
Real Impact of a Green roof on Your Home:
- Stormwater Management: Green roofs soak up rainfall and reduce runoff that can overwhelm storm sewers. During heavy storms, this makes a measurable difference
- Flood Mitigation: By slowing and retaining water, green roofs help prevent the flash flooding that’s becoming more common with climate change and can affect your property
- Longer roof lifespan: Protection from UV exposure and temperature extremes can significantly extend roofing membrane life and save you money
- Improved Urban Biodiversity: Pollinators and birds all benefit from pockets of habitat high above the street. A single green roof can become a stepping stone in a larger ecological network
- Improved Air Quality Green roofs help filter pollutants
- Enhanced Aesthetic: Green roofs transform bare rooftops into living landscapes bringing colour, texture, seasonal change, and a direct, calming connection to nature into everyday urban life
What Do I Need to Know?
Can my roof support it?
Many homes can, but a structural assessment is required, especially for older roofs.
What roof slope is allowed?
Green roofs work best on flat to moderately sloped roofs (typically up to ~20° with stabilization).
Can it go over asphalt shingles?
No, a green roof cannot go on asphalt shingles because shingles contain many penetrations, degrade when constantly wet, and are not root‑resistant. Green roofs require a tightly sealed membrane system compatible with root‑barrier layers.
Will it leak?
No, it will not leak if installed over a water-tight waterproofing and root‑barrier system that prevent leaks.
What plants are used?
Sedums, native grasses, and drought‑tolerant plants that thrive in shallow soil and harsh conditions are most common. Rooftop food production is also possible with the right growing media and if the structure can support the extra weight.
Will it attract pests?
No. A well‑designed green roofs does not attract pests and often support beneficial insects.
What are the costs and maintenance?
Costs vary by plantings, size of green roof and ease of access. Maintenance involves routine inspections and weeding.
TO Wants You To Go Green
If you’re in Toronto, the City will support your retrofit through the Eco-Roof Incentive Program.
Toronto’s Green Roof Rebate helps you build your home’s resiliency while helping the city reach its climate and sustainability goals.
To learn more on how to navigate and apply for the rebate, read NLSM’s blog.
Vancouver’s Practical Green Roof Guide
Next Level can walk you through Vancouver’s practical Rain City Green Roof Best Practices Guide that supports homeowners interested in implementing green roofs to help manage rainwater on site, to improve building resilience, and support urban biodiversity.
Vancouver encourages voluntary green roofs by offering design tools, plant lists, and real‑world examples that make it easier for homeowners to plan and build high‑performing systems with confidence.
Read NLSM’s blog with highlights on Vancouver’s Rain City Green Roof Best Practices Guide.
Your Roof – Part of the Climate Solution
Let’s help your green roof grow! Ready to explore what a green roof could look like on your building? The Next Level Stormwater Management team is here to help you take the next step.
Supplier of more than 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.
Making a Tangible Environmental Impact
By Cristina Senjug, Partnership Manager, Next Level Stormwater Management
What is the Eco‑Roof Incentive Program?
The City of Toronto Eco‑Roof Incentive Program is a municipal environmental grant program that helps property owners offset the cost of installing green roofs and cool roofs on buildings within Toronto. Its main goal is to reduce urban heat, manage stormwater, lower energy use, and improve climate resilience across the city. The Eco‑Roof Incentive Program provides financial incentives to support the installation of:
- Green roofs (vegetated roof systems with plants and growing medium)
- Cool roofs (light‑coloured or reflective roofing systems)
These eco‑roofs help make Toronto cooler, greener, and more climate‑resilient by reducing heat buildup, managing rainwater, improving air quality, and lowering building energy costs.
1.1 Million Square Metres of Impact
Since 2009, Toronto’s Eco‑Roof Incentive Program has funded over 600 green and cool roof projects to create an estimated 1.1 million square meters of eco-roof space. These roofs have helped divert stormwater, reduce energy consumption and create jobs. They reduce citywide greenhouse gas emissions and have made a real, tangible environmental impact to help Toronto with its climate goals.
Want to retrofit your home’s rooftop?
Read A Sustainable Future Starts Right Above Your Head
Eligible buildings
- existing residential, industrial, commercial & institutional buildings of any size
- new residential, industrial, commercial, & institutional buildings with a gross floor area of less than 2,000 m²
- all new construction projects by Toronto School Boards and not-for-profit organizations
Incentive
- $100 per m2 of vegetated area installed
- Maximum of $100,000 per green roof project
Green roofs on existing buildings are also eligible for up to $1,000 Structural Assessment Grant.
Download the One-Pager Reference
Toronto Green Roof Incentive for Homeowners
Here to Help With Your Application
Applications are open year‑round, but approval must be received before any construction begins. Next Level Stormwater Management’s (NLSM’s) team of Green Roof Professionals (GRPs) will help you apply for the green roof rebate and navigate Green Roofs Planning, Design, and Maintenance and Inspection and Maintenance Guide.
NLSM has a variety of green roofs to meet your design goals. All green roof systems are wind tested and comply with municipal requirements. Consider our most popular lightweight and economical LiteN’Less® pre-vegetated green roof that is easy, quick and clean to install. Upgrade with a BioBerm® for strategic visual and biodiversity enhancements where your building structure allows more weight. Or, make it an Alpine Meadow or a rooftop oasis with unlimited plantings and even food production with the Flora Garden.
Want to Learn More? Watch Webinar
Supplier of more than 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 Vicky Snyder at NLSM by email or phone 647-290-4460.
Celebrating World Landscape Architecture Month
By Cristina Senjug, Partnership Manager, Next Level Stormwater Management
Every April, landscape architects across Canada join colleagues around the world to celebrate World Landscape Architecture Month (WLAM).
This is a time to recognize the important work landscape architects do to help design many of the outdoor spaces we use and pass through daily, from parks and neighbourhoods to campuses and city streets.
Working alongside urban planners, architects, and engineers, landscape architects help shape cities to be functional, sustainable, safe and welcoming.
Designing Gardens in the Sky
As Canadian cities grow denser through increased development and construction, landscape architects are essential in planning and designing resilient urban environments and responding to climate challenges such as urban heat, flooding, and biodiversity loss.
Green roofs are an exciting and innovative area of landscape architecture. Also known as vegetated roofs, green roofs transform unused rooftop spaces into vibrant, living ecosystems. They’re an example of how landscape architects combine ecology and hydrology to design thriving ecosystems to to provide environmental and social benefit. Through careful design and implementation, these vegetated rooftops manage stormwater, mitigate flooding, reduce urban heat, support biodiversity and restore much‑needed urban green space.
Next Level Stormwater Management is proud of our collaboration with landscape architects by consulting on and supplying millions of square feet of green roofs on hundreds of projects across Canada.
Below are recent aerial videos of some landmark green roofs.
Video of Biodiverse Green Roofs
Learn More about Landscape Architecture
Landscape architecture matters because it creates safe, healthy, and beautiful outdoor spaces where people, wildlife, and communities can thrive.
If you’re interested in landscape architecture where creativity and design blends with science and climate action, visit Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) or check out one of several accredited landscape architecture programs across the country.
UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (MLA) | Vancouver, BC
UNIVERSITÉ DE MONTRÉAL (MLA) | Montréal, QC
UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY (MLA) | Calgary, AB
UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH (BLA/MLA) | Guelph, ON
UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA (MLA) | Winnipeg, MB
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO (MLA) | Toronto, ON
Supplier of more than 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.
The Business Case for Green Roof Amenity Space
The following blog post summarizes key insights from “Sky‑High Returns: The Economic and Social Case for Green Roof Amenity Space,” featured in the Spring 2026 issue of Living Architecture Monitor.
By Dr. Karen Liu, Green Roof Specialist, Next Level Stormwater Management
As North American cities densify to address climate change, population growth, and housing affordability, green space at ground level is becoming increasingly scarce. In this context, green roof amenity spaces are no longer optional. Instead, they are essential urban infrastructure that supports human well‑being while delivering measurable economic value.
Research increasingly demonstrates that the benefits of green roofs extend well beyond environmental performance. In the United States, apartment buildings with green roofs in New York City’s Battery Park City neighbourhood achieved average rents 16% higher than comparable buildings without green roofs. In Oak Park, Illinois, second‑floor condominium units with private green roof terraces sold for 12.4% more per unit, while green roof construction costs were significantly lower than the added value.
Canadian research shows similar results. A CMHC study estimated that recreational rooftop gardens can increase property values by approximately 11%. More recently, a University of Northern British Columbia study analyzing over 2,000 property listings found that green roofs increased average property values by approximately $700,000 in Vancouver, and added approximately $325 per square metre ($30 per square foot) in Toronto. Given that typical extensive green roof costs in Toronto range from $25–35 per square foot, many projects can recover all or most of their investment through increased listing prices alone, before accounting for energy savings, stormwater compliance, and extended roof membrane lifespan.
Multi-functional Rooftop Hardscapes
Municipal requirements for outdoor amenity space and stormwater management often compete for limited rooftop area on new developments. This challenge can be exacerbated by restrictions on “double dipping.” For example, the City of Toronto limits green roofs to no more than 25% of required outdoor amenity space for apartment buildings. Fortunately, emerging design strategies allow amenity spaces to also manage stormwater effectively.
Our SpongeBase™ system adds retention and detention capacity and effectively transforms otherwise impervious amenity surfaces into pervious ones to help meet the site’s stormwater management targets. SpongeBase Retention inserts water-absorbent materials in the void space under patio pavers or decking to retain water and help meet municipal water balance target. SpongeBase Detention involves detention elements that convert the space below the rooftop patio into temporary detention reservoirs to meet quantity control requirement. These tools can be seamlessly integrated with green roofs or blue‑green roof systems to create dual‑function green roof amenity spaces that serve people and infrastructure needs simultaneously.
Growing Demand for Green Roof Amenity Space
Beyond financial and regulatory benefits, green roof amenity spaces deliver significant social and health value. They provide restorative outdoor environments for residents, workers, students, patients, and visitors, supporting mental health, reducing stress, and fostering social connection. Research consistently shows that even visible green roofs, including those on schools and hospitals, contribute to improved well‑being and learning outcomes.
While returns vary by building and location, the evidence is clear: green roof amenity spaces increase property value, support urban resilience, and improve quality of life. With more than 80% of people in Canada and the United States living in cities, designing multifunctional rooftop green spaces is becoming essential to meeting the needs of urban communities.
Technical Expertise and Project Support
Next Level Stormwater Management works with design teams to supply and integrate green roofs and amenity spaces that can increase ROI, extend roof membrane service life and improving the building’s return on investment.
Beyond supplying systems and products, Dr. Karen Liu and the rest of the Next Level Stormwater Management team provide technical guidance, system selection and design coordination services to help project teams confidently deliver green roof amenity spaces that satisfy performance targets and user expectations. This collaborative approach supports better outcomes and long‑term performance.
About the Author
Dr. Karen Liu is a leading expert in green roof research with more than 25 years of experience spanning research, standards development, and hands-on project delivery. She has led pioneering green roof research programs in Canada, helped develop national wind testing standards for vegetated roofing, and contributed to dozens of influential technical and academic publications. Karen has worked on hundreds of green roof projects across North America, Europe, and Asia, and is actively involved in advancing industry training and professional standards. She currently serves on multiple boards and committees supporting green infrastructure and landscape architecture.
Canada’s Supplier of more than 2.5 Million SQFT
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™. Ready to start your green roof project? The NLSM team has more than 90 years combined industry experience and here to support you at every stage from design and construction to maintenance. Please email us or call 416-637-5772 today.
Read Rooftop Stormwater Management Technologies for Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience by Dr. Karen Liu and Sasha Aguilera in Construction Canada January 2022 Vol. 64 No. 1.
The article looks at the increased intensity and frequency of recent extreme weather events such as heatwaves, rainstorms and hurricanes and how green infrastructure helps urban centres become more resilient. It includes info about new flood maps, efforts on climate action and how green infrastructure, including green roofs, blue roofs and blue-green roofs are being used to manage stormwater and mitigate flooding of urban centres.
Supplier of More Than 2.5 M SQFT Coast to Coast
NLSM is Canada’s leading supplier of pre-vegetated roofs such as LiteN’Less™, Xeroflor® and StormCap™ systems. We customize to local requirements. Email or call (416) 637-5772 Ext 1.