Our client needed to renovate a vacant office building in downtown Chicago as part of a pilot program to meet the goals of recent environmental initiatives. In collaboration with Roofing Resources, Inc., the roofing contractor, Roofscapes, Inc., the green roof designer, and Sika-Sarnafil, the roofing membrane manufacturer, Ecogardens executed the green roof installation. For aesthetic and environmental value we grew a diverse plant community made up of many natives. We created faux contours above two abandoned skylights by adding insulation and plant media. In an otherwise direct-sun environment, these mounds became microclimates for shade-loving plants that enjoy moisture-rich soils. And, to meet the client’s wish that the green roof be accessible to office tenants, we installed a unique railing system around its perimeter without drilling any holes that might have led to disastrous leaks. It is the only free-standing, ballasted railing system in Chicago.