“Standard green roofs are used to reduce the heat island effect of cities, but what if we took this idea to an entirely new level? I’m imagining a new ecological network at the height of the rooftops—one that is defined by vivid, heterogeneous trees and plants that create habitat in the sky and amplify urban biodiversity on a regional, and ultimately global, scale.”
—Jeanne Gang, Preface to Island in the Sky
Supported by the robust structure of our 1938 art deco building, we’ve transformed the once-blank rooftop of our Chicago headquarters into a lush green space where nature, people, and city converge.
Outdoors, we’ve developed a 5,000-square-foot functioning prairie ecosystem where more than seventy plant species provide habitat and forage for insects and wildlife, including three colonies of honeybees. This unique green roof is a living laboratory where we’re working with ecologists and other specialists to build a body of knowledge—and eventually, best practices—about how urban rooftops can become an ecological network of green spaces that cultivate much-needed biodiversity. (Learn more in Island in the Sky, a field guide to our rooftop ecosystem.)
Within the soft prairie landscape we’ve built a transparent “Treehouse” pavilion. This flexible indoor space hosts office gatherings, workshops, and yoga, as well as public events that invite the community into the Studio for discussions on design and related topics.
Surrounded by the changing colors and textures of the prairie and the busy city beyond, it is easy to imagine a future in which natural and urban environments coexist and thrive.
Jeanne Gang discusses the Studio’s rooftop ecosystem, new field guide publication, and annual bioblitz.