Ninkasi Brewing adds LiveRoof Hybrid Green Roof System

Ninkasi Brewing Co.’s administrative building opened in Eugene this summer and now features a rooftop garden — the LiveRoof Hybrid Green Roof System, to be exact — that the team hopes will have a positive impact on the local environment and waterways. The living, planted roof was installed as part of a plan to green the entire facility.

GreenFeathers, the regional grower for the LiveRoof system, grew and delivered mature flowers and greenery for the rooftop, which was designed by Cameron McCarthy and installed by Rexius.

The living roof is said to reduce the total amount of stormwater runoff and filters pollutants that would otherwise be deposited in local streams, lakes and rivers. Additionally, the green roof will moderate the temperature of runoff water, which minimizes its effect on local aquatic life.

“We strive to improve the lives of our customers, the residents of our communities, our employees and our business partners,” said Nikos Ridge, CEO and co-founder of Ninkasi. “Pure, clean water is an essential ingredient of our beer, so it makes sense that we would design our facilities in a way that is sensitive to local waterways. The green roof helped us to achieve this and had the added benefit of a spectacular view for our visitors and staff.”

GreenFeathers, the regional grower for the LiveRoof system, grew and delivered mature flowers and greenery for the rooftop, which was designed by Cameron McCarthy and installed by Rexius. This new brewery is part of a larger growth project for Ninkasi, which includes a new local distribution facility and second brewhouse. All buildings are registered to be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified under the new LEED campus platform.

“This project has been very rewarding,” said Grace Dinsdale, president of GreenFeathers Inc. “We knew that sustainability was a high priority for Ninkasi, and feel proud to have contributed to those efforts through use of recycled materials, locally sourced plants and soil and sustainable growing.”

The green roof is visible above the front entrance and from windows throughout the facility.