The Notre Dame Joyce Center is home to the largest green roof in the state of Indiana
Notre Dame’s campus features multiple acres of vegetative “green” roofs across a growing number of buildings. One notable example is the green roof atop the Notre Dame Joyce Center, home to the LEED Gold-certified Purcell Pavilion. Spanning nearly 2 acres of space between the double domes of the Joyce Center and containing over 32,000 trays of plants from 25 different plant species, this green roof is the largest in the state of Indiana.
Benefits
Green roofs are part of the University’s broader commitment to creating a more sustainable built environment and provide a range of immediate and long-term environmental and structural benefits. They can improve natural building insulation to reduce energy demands, help mitigate the urban heat island effect, support pollinators, and improve stormwater management by absorbing and filtering rainwater. Green roofs can also extend the lifespan of roof materials by 200-300% by protecting them from UV radiation, temperature fluctuations, and weathering.
Learn more about green roofs and other construction initiatives at our Building & Construction page.