Designed as part of Nashville’s green infrastructure initiative, the green roof addresses urban stormwater challenges and reduces the urban heat island effect. The green roof spans 191,000 square feet and is constructed in three distinct sections, each optimized with a specific blend of rooflite® soil, developed by Skyland USA. This blend was customized and fine-tuned multiple times to meet the precise requirements of this massive green space.

Ordinarily, rain falling on the center’s 1.2 million square foot structure would flow into the city’s stormwater system. However, the green roof retains approximately 2.6 million gallons of stormwater per year, greatly reducing strain on the city’s aging infrastructure, which dates back to the 1880s.

“Stormwater management is essential in urban settings, and green roofs like this alleviate much of the stress on the city’s system,” says Joe DiNorscia, president of Skyland USA. “Green roofs allow 60 to 80% of rainwater to stay on a roof, absorbed by plants or evaporated. What’s left drains more slowly, giving the system time to manage the runoff more effectively.”

Customized Green Roof Media: Balancing Retention and Drainage

The Nashville Music City Center’s extensive green roof relies on a specialized mix of rooflite extensive, semi-intensive, and intensive soil media to accommodate different planting zones and ensure optimal performance. Rooflite Blender, Garick, handled the soil production, and the media was installed by Baker Roofing using a pneumatic blower truck system, facilitating a smooth, efficient installation across all sections.

DiNorscia explains that creating an effective green roof media requires finding the right balance between retention and drainage. “The product is really a contradiction in functionality,” he says. “On one hand, it has to absorb as much water as possible. On the other, once it reaches that maximum absorption, the excess water must drain quickly to avoid oversaturation.”

The soil mix, which includes lightweight aggregates, was developed to both retain water and allow excess drainage, a balance essential for stormwater management and plant health.

LEED Gold Certification and Environmental Impact

The Music City Center’s green roof contributed to the building’s LEED Gold certification, achieving credits for water efficiency, reduced heat absorption, and sustainable site design. Additionally, by sourcing materials locally within a 500-mile radius, the project met LEED’s regional materials requirement, supporting local economies and reducing transportation emissions.

Collaborative Installation in an Urban Setting

The large-scale installation presented logistical challenges typical for urban settings. The use of blower trucks by Baker Roofing enabled seamless material transport to the fifth-story roof, ensuring that the soil was placed efficiently without disrupting surrounding streets and infrastructure.

“This project is a great example of what a total team concept can accomplish,” remarks DiNorscia. “From our expertise in standardized blends to Garick’s manufacturing and Landscape Support Services’ precise logistics, each part of the team contributed to make the green roof a success.”

A Model of Green Roof Innovation

DiNorscia and his team at Skyland USA have supplied green roof media for over 700 green roofs across the United States, underscoring their experience in meeting unique logistical and technical challenges. “Getting the product to the site and up on the roof is critical,” DiNorscia says, emphasizing that the logistical considerations are a “material handling puzzle” that requires close teamwork and coordination.

The Nashville Music City Center’s green roof serves as a benchmark in sustainable design, combining innovative materials with thoughtful, collaborative execution to deliver a high-impact urban green space.