The Skyline Park is a 1 acre park located in Fort Wayne, IN. What makes this park noteworthy is that it is located 4 stories in the air, above a parking garage, and is the largest rooftop garden in the state. To access this park, you either have to work in the Ash Skyline Plaza or live in the Skyline Towers apartment building adjacent to the park.

Skyline Park was designed by Design Collaborative to provide a space that could be used for both corporate events and private recreation and relaxation. The park consists of raised garden beds, a fountain with seating area as well as an open area with natural grass to appeal to both the public and private use.

As everything was located 4 stories in the air, the design of the parking garage roof needed to account for all the material weight and create a water management plan. Another challenge came with construction as all the garden material needed to be lifted to the site by a rooftop crane. Once the material was on the roof, Clounie Landscaping was able to utilize their knowledge and expertise they learned at Allan Block’s Contractor Certification training to install the retaining walls.

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Surcharge, by definition, is any added weight above a wall. Based on Best Practices for Segmental Retaining Walls, when a surcharge is applied above the wall over the reinforced zone, the top layer of grid should be extended. This is displayed in the image on the right. Below are key thoughts to keep in mind regarding surcharges:

• What kind of surcharge is above? - Vehicular? Pedestrian?
• What is that loading value? Where is its final placement?
• Is it a live or dead load?

Lastly, in terraced applications, the upper wall(s) can again cause the grids to be extended to 60% the total structure height. The extended grids assist the overall stability of the site.

These are guidelines of considerations, but each project is unique, the engineer on the project should apply the loading that best represents their project needs based on the site.

Contact Allan Block for more information or for a copy of our current AB Walls Design Software.

Rooftop landscaping, once a niche concept, has surged in popularity as urban environments seek innovative ways to expand green spaces. These elevated gardens transform typically unused rooftops into vibrant spaces for recreation, entertainment, and outdoor living. Allan Block products, known for their innovative design and flexibility, are a top choice for architects and engineers tackling these projects.

Allan Block's retaining walls, seating walls, and fence products feature a hollow core, making them lighter and adaptable to various fill materials. Properly designing a rooftop landscape involves understanding several critical factors, such as the roof's intended purpose, desired elements, and structural parameters.

Purpose and Elements:

The design of a rooftop garden varies based on its intended use. Whether for public entertainment, relaxation, or as a private living space, each purpose dictates the space's layout and loading requirements. Key elements might include raised garden beds, stairs, seating walls, fountains, walking paths, and pools. These elements contribute to the overall load and must be carefully planned to ensure structural integrity.

Design and Construction Considerations:

Designing rooftop gardens requires meticulous planning, especially regarding weight management and water control. Lightweight fill materials, such as styrofoam blocks, are often used to reduce overall weight. Water management is crucial to prevent leaks and support plant life, necessitating robust waterproofing and drainage systems.

In conclusion, Allan Block products, including AB Retaining Walls, AB Courtyard, and AB Fence, are versatile and well-suited for rooftop applications. They offer lightweight, adaptable products, ensuring that each rooftop garden is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. For more detailed guidance on design and installation, Allan Block provides comprehensive resources and design software at allanblock.com, or check out our Tech Sheet – Rooftop Landscaping and Gardens for more information.

By integrating these green spaces into urban settings, we not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of our cities but also create valuable communal areas that promote well-being and environmental sustainability.

Segmental retaining walls have an inherent setback or batter to the walls. This reduces the pressure behind the walls and makes it possible to potentially build taller gravity walls. This setback is a wonderful thing; however, it does create a small inconvenience when building a straight wall up a slope. What happens is, when a wall is being installed the wall will start to “move away” from a straight line as it goes up in elevation.

Not to worry, Allan Block has a solution laid out in our Tech Sheets to eliminate this scenario, Building Straight Walls Up a Slope. This tech sheet provides the installer with a method to adjust the wall line to match up with the desired straight line as they step up the wall.

Check out the tech sheet for more information or reach out to your local Allan Block representative with questions.