greenscreen(R) Green Walls Play Integral Part in Valley Metro Light Rail Design

PRLog (Press Release) - Jan 19, 2010 -
LOS ANGELES…After nearly eight years of planning, testing and designing, the eco-friendly Valley Metro Light Rail held its grand opening in December 2008, inviting local Arizona residents and officials to witness the longest light rail start in the country in Phoenix, AZ. greenscreen® green walls played an integral part in the project from concept to completion, providing shading as well as aesthetic appeal to the Light Rail stations.

Getting Arizona residents to take public transportation presents a unique challenge due to the region’s hot arid climate. To minimize the effects of the intense sunshine, Dr. Harvey Bryan with the School of Architecture at Arizona State University led a research team in conducting a comprehensive study of outdoor design criteria for the light rail stations. The team determined that controlling the surrounding surface temperature of the stations was the most important variable in addressing thermal comfort. These findings dictated the types of materials specified for the station designs as well as the need for landscaping.

The next phase of the project was to determine which specific materials would best contribute to thermal comfort. Valley Metro sponsored another study to test various materials in different areas along the 28-mile light rail, ultimately concluding which materials offer the lowest surface temperatures and therefore the most comfortable atmosphere for light rail riders.

Finally, the project team conducted a federally funded public study of more than 500 locals to gauge what they considered to be the most important factors in creating a successful light rail. The public listed safety as the top priority followed closely by shading and vegetation on the light rail stations. After sharing the survey results with the engineers, the team began plans for integrating plant life into the design.

In 2002, after several years of research and testing, Valley Metro Rail, Inc. proposed a design challenge for the Valley Metro Light Rail, dividing the 28-mile-long light rail into five sections. Five design teams were then given one week to create a design charrette for the light rail stations. The winning team was comprised of architectural firms Otak and Architekton, who worked with landscape architect A Dye Design. The kit of parts created by Otak/Architekton provided the overarching design guidelines for each of the light rail stations.

“In order to most effectively reduce heat gain of the surrounding area, we created a design that featured a tall green wall to provide maximum shade and comfort at the stations,” explained project architect Ron Dean of Otak. “greenscreen® was a key element in our winning kit of parts that is now featured on each light rail station.”

Manufactured from recycled steel, greenscreen® green walls are comprised of a three-dimensional wire space frame configuration that creates a captive growing space for plants to intertwine and flourish within the panel. Using greenscreen® can provide organic shading for the built environment, thus naturally reducing heat build-up while also improving air quality. For Valley Metro Light Rail, greenscreen® created a double wall system that facilitated plant growth between the screens while protecting the greenery from potential tampering and damage.

To determine which plants would be best for the greenscreen® installations, A Dye Design organized a nine-month study to observe a variety of plants in different areas of the city. The Vine and Vertical Shade Research Study, which received the 2006 ALSA Merit Award, provided the team with a substantial list of plant species to use with the greenscreen® systems. Specific species could then be selected based on which plants flourished in which station areas.  

“At first, it sounds contradictory to refer to the greenscreen® installations as customizable modular systems,” notes Caryn Heaps of A Dye Design. “But greenscreen® made it easy to tailor each installation to the individual station designs while still working with the basic green wall model specified by Otak/Architekton. James Sable of greenscreen® even provided a maintenance guide to ensure that the greenscreen® systems continue to receive proper care and upkeep.”

Making the Valley Metro Light Rail even more appealing, local artists and designers were selected to create a unique look for each of the 33 transit stations. The stations feature a variety of trees, vines, flowers and artwork that are integrated with the green walls as well as the surrounding area. As a result, each stop on the Valley Metro Light Rail provides relief from the heat with greenscreen® while offering creative aesthetics courtesy of Arizona artists.  

To learn more about greenscreen® green walls, visit www.greenscreen.com.