The sixty-six story 900 North Michigan Avenue building was conceived by the internationally acclaimed architects, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates. The tower portion achieves vertical striation and is home to the always impeccable five-star Four Seasons Hotel and the magnificent homes of 132 East Delaware. The Residences at 900 were created by transforming eight levels of office space, providing for gracious and generous floor plans.

One hundred feet above Chicago’s famed “Magnificent Mile,” the rooftop garden at the Residences at 900 N. Michigan Avenue features planting and structural patterns inspired by views of Midwest agricultural landscape. Designed for those purchasing newly-converted luxury condominiums, this green roof incorporates sophisticated design and craftsmanship expected of a high-end amenity with many environmental benefits.

Residents sit amid the hush of waving grasses and bobbing allium, surrounded by towering skyscrapers. This startling juxtaposition is a key intent of the design - it reminds residents of their location in a bustling city while treating their senses to a bit of nature they may have assumed was unavailable in urban life. Residents of surrounding buildings have beautiful views of its seasonal changes, growth and regeneration each spring.

As part of this rooftop garden system, Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects, LLC, with consultation from Roofing Consultants, Ltd., included loose-laid 60 mil EPDM membrane manufactured by Carlisle SynTec. It was installed by the green roof system vendor, Weston Solutions, underneath 3” extruded polystyrene, polypropylene filter fabric and stone pavers.

This project received the 2008 Award of Excellence from Green Roofs For Healthy Cities, as the year’s best example of an Intensive Residential project.

The EPDM (ethylene propylene diene terpolymer) single-ply rubber roofing membrane has been an appealing choice of the low-slope commercial roofing industry for over 40 years.

It is the number one roofing choice of architects, roof consultants and contractors for both new construction and replacement roofing projects according to market surveys from Building Design and Construction, and Roofing/Siding/Insulation magazines, and the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA).

EPDM is used in 1 billion square feet of new roof coverings in the United States annually, as well as more than 500,000 warranted roof installations on 20 billion-plus square feet.

Founded in 1999 from a small network of public and private organizations, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities’ mission is to increase the awareness of the economic, social, and environmental benefits of green roof infrastructure across North America and rapidly advance the development of the market for green roof products and services.

Its Design Awards acknowledge excellence in innovative and integrative green roof design and raise awareness of the multiple benefits that green roofs can provide clients and the general public.

"Beautiful, varied and practical, The Residences at 900 project was this year’s best example of an Intensive Residential project."
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
2008 Awards of Excellence

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