Clinton Foundation & National Archive and Records Administration
William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library Rooftop Garden & Chime Artwork
Living Habitats was selected from a field of distinguished competitors by the Clinton Foundation and the National Archives and Records Administration to design a 10,000 square foot green roof as a retrofit for the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Center. The Living Habitats design serves to animate and make accessible an incredible asset; the roof of the Center affords visitors sweeping views of Little Rock while serving a vital function of stormwater retention. As a retrofit project, material selection required a mindfulness of the existing architectural detailing. We worked diligently to reinforce and evolve details that enhance, not detract, from the elegant lines created by the building architects.
The southern portion of the roof features a private recreational yard for the former President bordered with perennials that hold special meaning to him. The space to the north is organized around a graceful curving boardwalk inspired by the Arkansas River below, shade structures for escaping the intense Little Rock summer sun, and integrated musical elements specifically requested by the President.
Simple and crisp, the lines of the meandering boardwalk mingle with a playful mixture of extensive and semi-intensive rooftop plants comprised of both native and non-native flora that attract beneficial wildlife. The custom wind chimes that Living Habitats designed as a passive musical element that also incorporated lighting, are complimented by a solar powered pipe organ adding to the festive nature of the space. Subtle and graceful, the lighting solution supports evening use of the space while harkening to the twinkle of the city lights beyond.
Along with the goal of former President Clinton to have a space for fund raising, entertaining and for private recreation adjacent to the penthouse, the design solution supported efforts to secure an Existing Building LEED Platinum rating for the Center, and fulfilled the original architectural vision of a rooftop garden oasis to be enjoyed by the President, his family, and distinguished guests while also being highly performative through energy savings, stormwater storage, habitat creation and heat island mitigation
C-SPAN: William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library Tour
Location:
Little Rock, Arkansas
Date:
2007 – 2009
Client:
Clinton Foundation
National Archive & Records Administration
Team:
TREMCO: Contractor & Team Lead
LIVING HABITATS: Roof Garden & Chime Artwork Designer
PENDRAGON FABRICATION: Chime Fabrication & Installation
ENNEAD ARCHITECTS (formerly Polshek Partnership): Architect
POLK STANLEY WILCOX ARCHITECTS, WER ARCHITECTS/PLANNERS, AND WOODS & CARADINE ARCHITECTS: Associate Architects
Awards:
2009 US Green Building Council, Existing Building LEED Platinum, William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Center Green Roof
2006 Green Building Initiative, Green Globes NC (New Construction)
2005 Gold Industrial Design Excellence Award (IDEA)
