After over a year of hard work and $1.1 million spent, the green roof renovation on Kings Court/English House is now officially complete.
Dedication of the green roof occurred yesterday afternoon and featured speeches by the College House's Faculty Master Jorge Santiago and Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli.
The new roof features a perimeter of low-maintenance, weather-resistant greenery surrounded by an upgraded patio adjacent to an existing penthouse.
The dedication began with the speech by Santiago, who noted he was surprised but pleased that Kings Court/English House was chosen to receive the green roof.
Although the roof was completed in the spring, the dedication did not occur until today, as administrators were waiting for the roof's grass to grow.
It was imperative that administrators wait for all of the plants to mature, as they absorb moisture that otherwise could have leaked into the College House.
And the project was not without complications. Students complained of noise during the renovation and debris occasionally fell from the roof.
According to Business Services spokesperson Barbara Lea-Kruger, Kings Court/English House was selected for the project not only because of its history of sustainability but also its roof structure.
However, this is not the first green roof project at Penn. Huntsman Hall, Hill Pavilion and the new Radian apartment building have already implemented green roofs. Still, this is the first College House roof to be renovated into a green space.
In a letter presented at the dedication by Carnaroli, President Amy Gutmann lauded this completion as "one step forward in our journey toward increasing our environmental sustainability."
Residents of Kings Court/English House welcomed the new roof. Engineering sophomore Will McGill said, "It's awesome. The new roof looks amazing and adds life to the whole dorm."
College sophomore Carly Levitz agreed, adding that "it was worth it," even though the College House cafe had to be closed for the duration of the renovation.
Besides the courtyard, the new green roof will be a harmonious addition to the whole green landscape.
"I am happy that Penn, the city of Philadelphia and the state are focusing on sustainable development," added Santiago. "Not only will this save energy, but also it will reduce spending on water and is going to be beautiful to look at."
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