
A partnership between Philadelphia Water, the National Park Service, Independence National Historical Park and SHIFT_DESIGN has created new “living wall” that manages stormwater runoff from the roof of the Department of Interior building located at 3rd and Walnut streets.
The wall features over 70 individual plants—all of them native to Pennsylvania—suspended from a vertical structure which collects rainwater from the roof in four stainless steel tanks.The water is then pumped from the storage tanks via solar power into irrigation lines that sustain the plant life.
The wall was made possible because of a partnership between Philadelphia Water, the National Park Service and the Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Coastal Nonpoint Pollution (CNPP) grant program.
In addition, SHIFT_DESIGN conceived, fabricated and installed the living wall. Drexel students Oliver Law, Hanna Karraby, Aimee Turner and Iat Chi Sin worked with SHIFT_DESIGN through a cooperative program to help install the wall, which was finished this week after a two-and-a-half year process.
Image via Kristen Gillette
-30-From our Partners
SBN is helping local independent businesses rebuild with equity and climate resilience
Power moves: Stefanie Arck-Baynes has moved from Philabundance to Benefits Data Trust
Hey, dog owners: 40% of you don’t bother to pick up your pet’s poop. That stinks, in more ways than one
Generocity Philly
Inscripción Doble en Congreso: Lo que trae el futuro
Climate change at the forefront of the 2019 SustainPHL Awards
That thing you do: What happened around Philly in May
Knight Foundation releases report assessing Civic Commons efforts in 5 cities, including Philly
Generocity Philly
Dual Enrollment at Congreso: Where does it go from here?

St. James School
Graduate Support Fellow – Servant Year
Apply Now
St. James School
Graduate Support Success Specialist
Apply NowSign-up for daily news updates from Generocity
More Information