Schoonover Green Roof

A Living Laboratory Above Athens

Perched on top of Schoonover Center at Ohio University, this rooftop planting integrates native and drought-tolerant species into a functioning green roof. The camera looks out across the vegetated surface toward the brick façade of the surrounding academic buildings and the tree-lined streets of downtown Athens.

Monitoring Sustainable Design

A cluster of environmental sensors and data-logging equipment sits amid the plantings, continuously measuring how the vegetated surface absorbs rainfall, moderates rooftop temperature, and reduces runoff compared with a conventional roof.

A Resource for Teaching and Research

The installation doubles as an outdoor classroom, giving students and researchers a real-time window into stormwater management and building-science principles without needing direct access to the roof itself.

Part of a Growing Campus Initiative

The green roof reflects a broader push toward sustainable infrastructure on campus, showing how even a small rooftop can be reimagined as a working ecosystem that benefits both people and the building it covers.