Project

Charter

PRAG4 PROJECT CHARTER

Wednesday October 20, 2010

Name Dikie Dunnski Environmental Institute Green Roof, Ryerson University
Product To design, develop and implement a rooftop planting system that allows for
Description the sustained presence of vegetation covering the new D. Dunnski building
on the Ryerson University campus
Sponsor Ryerson University; Ontario Government; Federal Government
Project Manager
Project Team

This Project Charter serves to announce the initiation of the PRAG4 Green Roof project to design
and build a showpiece Green Roof on the Dikie Dunnski Environmental Institute building located at
the Ryerson University campus.

PRAG4 Project Charter 1

1.0 Business Reasons for Project
Most significant project drivers:
• Environmental cost benefits linked to ongoing energy savings over conventional roofing
choices
• Institutional cost savings: the roof will improve energy efficiency by reducing the use of air-
conditioning and fossil fuel derived heating systems and by lowering energy consumption by
an estimated 16% annually
• Longer life span of the environmentally friendly roof, diverting solid waste from entering
publicly funded landfill sites
• Connection between its users and the natural world, something overlooked in a heavily built-
up urban area of Downtown Toronto
• Outdoor space, promoting physical and emotional well being; will also provide an ideal
public retreat by reclaiming lost natural environment
• Visual and aesthetic appeal; providing beautiful views for its active users and by surrounding
neighbours
• The green roof can be a used as community, event or exhibit space highlighting Ryerson's
continued stewardship towards improving the environment

Additional key project drivers are:

• Reduction of average rooftop temperatures, reducing urban heat-island effect
• Airborne species habitat, e.g. birds, butterflies and other insects
• Stimulation of local economy by providing work to landscape companies
• Improvement of the urban air quality and filtering of airborne pollutants
• Internal building noise reduction for the student body
• Promotion of green roof awareness and appreciation of the natural world
• Storm water runoff control

1.1 Project Scope

In scope:

• Developing the chosen location with a 26750 ft2 intensive green roof
• Including accessible access on the roof itself
• Considering structural elements
• Addressing building permit requirements
• Addressing fire safety provisions
• Establishing initial concept of green roof (i.e. whether extensive or intensive, a vegetation
layer, substrate layer, drainage layer, waterproofing layer, and a firebreak perimeter)
• Consulting with landscape and building architects, structural engineers and green roof
installation contractors to design the roof layout, undertake site preparation including
appropriate drainage, irrigation systems, growth medium and appropriate plant selection
• Consulting with landscape specialists for maintenance requirements
• Developing an irrigation plan i.e. drip irrigation system
• Consulting with building architect to review construction plans with required structural
details
• Determining cost (roof design, installation, initial site maintenance)
• Submitting completed construction documents to the fire department for approval
• Submitting plans to the Department of building and safety for approval and permits
• Assembling construction team and complete construction

Not in scope:
• Marketing campaign for the new roof
• Marketing materials for the new roof

PRAG4 Project Charter 2

 • Ryerson branding installed on the roof structure
• Green roof signage within the building
• Usage guideline development for staff and students
• Accessible access to roof through building (i.e., elevators)
• Support or maintenance past 6 months post-launch
• Any of the costs associated with the construction of the building on which the roof is to be
installed.

2.0 Project Objectives

• Promotion of the benefits of environmental choices
• Recognition of environmental choice at all three levels of government
• Benefit from development plan incentives adopted by the City of Toronto starting January 1,
2011 to encourage developers to include a green roof on all new buildings throughout the
city
• Further increase the environmental, energy savings and human benefits offered by green
roofs
• Organization of awareness programs to showcase the new building in order to publicize the
importance of green roofs
• Identification of costs and benefits related to green roofs
• Encouragement of collaboration amongst stakeholders in adopting green roof programs

2.1 The Problem

The green roof project at Ryerson is a solid attempt to try to reduce the detrimental effect of
development on the environment. Problems such as loss of green space, urban heat islands, air
pollution, high-energy consumption, storm water control and ground water contamination are a
direct result of high density construction techniques. The question that the Ryerson green roof
project is seeking to address is, “How can we minimize the negative impact of the university
buildings on our city? At the same time, how can we enhance the beauty of our university and
further boost the public image with regards to environmental matters?”

2.2 The Solution

With this green roof project Ryerson University seeks to champion the development of the green
roof concept in the Toronto downtown area. The Ryerson green roof will be approximately 26750
ft2, and will be designed by a professional green roof developer and other suppliers. Ryerson’s goal
is to move the institution toward sound environmental practices, while at the same time reducing
other future building maintenance costs. The green roof will officially open in September 2011 for
the new school year, and it is estimated that the cost of developing a green roof is an average of
CAN$30/sq ft for a total project cost of $ 773,800.00, less City of Toronto incentives.

2.3 The Results

Benefits to be realized in the long term include:
• Increasing the life of the roof by about 2 or 3 times that of a traditional roof; expected cost
savings to be outlined in later budget reports
• Expected reduction in energy costs by about 16%
• Reduced strain on the storm water drainage system thereby reducing the cost of repairing
the infrastructure

Other tangible benefits:

• Provide a noise barrier for occupants of the building

PRAG4 Project Charter 3

 • Provide a habitat for airborne species
• Provide an oasis for Ryerson students and general public for recreation and study

3.0 Sponsor Priorities and Risk Tolerance

Sponsor Priorities:
• Cost – completed for a total cost of $ 663,800.00
• Scope – Green Roof on the top of a selected Ryerson University building
• Schedule - to be completed and opened for September 1st 2011
The client’s risk tolerance to changes in cost, scope and schedule is:
• Cost – low
• Schedule – medium
• Scope – high

4.0 Stakeholder Influences

• Ryerson and their Board (Project Sponsor)
o Will want to ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget
• Ryerson students, faculty, staff and administrators
o Will be solicited for their input of what the final product should look like
• Adjacent buildings and their tenants
o Monthly communication updates will be sent to provide updates on project progress
• Construction issues and concerns
o Need to monitor and report any delays or obstructions which could affect scheduled
completion
• Ryerson facilities department
o Commitment to maintain installed electrical and mechanical systems
• Contractors
o Availability of sufficient materials and external suppliers required for contract
completion
• Inspectors for building process
o Municipal requirements and permits required
• Architects, Engineers and Lawyers input
o To provide required information and details to the project
• Toronto fire service
o Provide guidance on regulations and fire safety procedures
• Environmental experts
o To maximize the project’s environmental benefits and qualification for incentives

5.0 Human Resource Requirements

• Project manager, who will have the authority to apply resources to the entire project until
completion
• Project coordinator
• Communication manager
• Document Editor
• Architects/landscape architects -To be Named
• Landscape Consultants-To be Named
• Structural Engineer- To be Named
• Mechanical / Electrical Engineering - To be Named

PRAG4 Project Charter 4

 • Environmental Consultant- To be Named
• Trees and Soils Consultant – To be Named
• Irrigation Contractors – To be Named
• Roofing contractor – To be Named
• Ryerson facilities office and administrator
• Suppliers of building and drainage materials

6.0 Project Schedule

October WK3, 2010
• Project Charter Approved

December WK1, 2010

• Complete initial plans, approvals and required permits

March WK4, 2011

• Structural completion of the building envelope, with required inputs from architects and
structural engineering consultants

April WK1, 2011

• Landscape design proposals, feasibility studies, design reviews and stakeholder approvals

May WK1, 2011

• Roof systems consultant finalized specifications report prepared
• RFQ issued to approved suppliers
• RFQ returns from interested parties
• Submission Review & Awarding of contract
• Issue PO to winning bid

June WK2, 2011

• Construction of extensive green roof project

August WK2, 2011

• Inspections, commissioning and final customer project sign-off

PRAG4 Project Charter 5

7.0 Summary Budget
Extensive Style Green Roof-Estimated Budget
The roof project calculations are based on an area of 26750 ft2

# Component Unit Cost Extended Cost Factors

1 Engineering & Design
Specifications
2 Project Administration & Site
Review
3 Initial Roofing with root
repelling membrane
4 Green Roof System
(growing medium, drainage,
filtering and access paving)
5 Plants
6 Installation and Required
Labour
7 Initial green environment
maintenance
8 Irrigation system
Total estimated cost
Cost
7.5% of total $52,200.00 Architectural fees, structural
roof analysis, roofing system
deliverables consultant, landscape design
cost fees, mechanical contractors
& electrical contractors
3.5% of total $26,100.00 The size/complexity of the
roof project and the number/type
deliverables of required communications
cost with the chosen consultants
$10.00 ft2 $267,500.00 Style/type of chosen extensive
roof system chosen and site
accessibility to roofing project
$7.50 ft2 $200,625.00 Total square footage of chosen
project site, growing
medium(type & depth), access
pavers(size & type)
$2.00 ft2 $53,500.00 Type, size and season of
planting for chosen vegetation
$5.00 ft2 $133,750.00 Equipment necessary to move
materials to and around the
roof and the required labour to
place the materials in location
$0.50 ft2 $13,375.00 On site care and conditioning
of the living roof prior to
customer signoff
$1.00 ft2 $26,750.00 Extensive roof systems require
little irrigation, but can be
needed if the are extended
periods of drought to reduce
vegetative loss and replanting
$773,800.00 See below Net cost with City
of Toronto Eco Roof Incentive
Plan

The City of Toronto Eco Incentive Program will pay an amount of $50 per square metre up to a
maximum of $ 100,000.00 for a green roof installed.

This proposed project will qualify for a rebate of the maximum $ 100,000.00.

This would reduce the overall projected cost to a total $ 663,800.00

PRAG4 Project Charter 6

8.0 Organizational, Environmental and External Assumptions and
Constraints
Organizational:
• Guidelines for work to be conducted on the Ryerson campus during daytime
• Access to building and noise levels
• Permits and municipal regulations to be followed
• Final city inspections to be done once project is finished

Environmental:
• Must work in cooperation with the construction team working on the project
• Need to closely monitor the construction leading up to and including the roof structure
• Assumption that the construction team will follow PRAG4’s direction for the roof base and
weight support needs

External:
• Government standards for green roof structures
• Assumption that construction on the new Ryerson building will be done on schedule (to be
completed by May 30)
• Risk of delays due to inclement weather and other unforeseen items
• Assumption that suppliers will have no issues with providing building supplies and greenery

PRAG4 Project Charter 7

Glossary of terms:
Extensive roof: simple design consists of a less deep soil layer; suits drought tolerant plants and
vegetation, less maintenance required.

Intensive roof: Also called a roof garden or living roof. Consists of a deeper layer of soil; includes
vegetation such as shrubs, trees, flowerbeds and paved areas, more maintenance required.

Vegetation layer: a range of plants including trees, bushes, grasses and flowers.

Substrate layer: The growth medium, examples are limestone mix or composted nutrient mix.

Deck drain layer: This is a layer under the substrate layer, which aids in draining residual water.

Water proofing and root barrier layer: This is a layer right at the bottom of all other layers and
its purpose is to protect the roof surface from any possible degradation from the green roof
materials.

Firebreak: this is a wide layer of rounded stones or decorative gravel around the perimeter of the
substrate. This is a fire prevention method used on green roofs.

Green Roof: For the purposes of Toronto's Green Roof Bylaw and the Eco-Roof Incentive Program,
a green roof is an extension of an above grade roof, built on top of a human-made structure, that
allows vegetation to grow in a growing medium and which is designed, constructed and maintained
in accordance with the Toronto Green Roof Construction Standard. A green roof assembly includes,
as a minimum, a root repellent system, a drainage system, a filtering layer, a growing medium and
plants, and shall be installed on a waterproof membrane of an applicable Roof

City of Toronto Green Roof Bylaw: Toronto is the first City in North America to have a bylaw to
require and govern the construction of green roofs on new development. It was adopted by the
Toronto City Council in May 2009, under the authority of Section 108 of the City of Toronto Act.
The Bylaw applies to new building permit applications for residential, commercial and institutional
development made after January 31, 2010, and will apply to new industrial development as of
January 31, 2011.

City of Toronto Eco Program: For 2010, the program will also provide funding for green roofs on
new industrial buildings with a Gross Floor Area of 2,000 m2 (21,528 sq ft) or greater, and new
institutional and eligible green roof projects will receive $50 / square metre up to a maximum of
$100,000.commercial buildings of less than 2,000 m2.

PRAG4 Project Charter 8

Project Signoff
Chris Prince has been selected to lead this project. He will assemble a project team to complete the
assigned task.

The Project Manager shall be given the authority and all resources necessary to complete the
project described above.

The sponsor agrees that the need and the requirements are met.

The sponsor authorizes the beginning of the planning process.

The Sponsor agrees to give full and complete authorization to proceed with the work outlined
above.

Sponsor Signature:_______________________________________________________

Title:__________________________________________________________________

Date Project Charter Approved:

______________________________________________________________________

Project Manager:_________________________________________________________

Date:__________________________________________________________________

PRAG4 Project Charter 9