The purpose of constructing a living wall on the municipal building in downtown State College is to visualize and embrace and reminder of the commitment to sustainability the city has made, and to inspire more green projects. The community will benefit by having a beautiful new addition to the city’s aesthetics, beautifying the municipal building.
A living wall provides more than just aesthetics to an area where it is built. The building and the surrounding environment benefit from the wall. One immediate effect is the reduction of the urban island heat effect. This is the result of sidewalks, buildings and other structures which retain sunlight as heat.
The living wall design is a 300 ft2 wall using a modular panel system. These panels are 12”x12” and allow for easy installation of plants. The wall will require maintenance, as a drip irrigation system will be implemented to keep the plants watered. To integrate the wall more deeply into the community, sections of plant material will be integrated with sections to mount artwork.