city of houston feasibility study for rooftop food production

116 Pages·2013·23.16 MB·English

CITY OF HOUSTON FEASIBILITY STUDY
FOR ROOFTOP FOOD PRODUCTION
created by
William McDonough + Partners
in collaboration with Morris Architects
November 15, 2013
2 CITY OF HOUSTON FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR ROOFTOP FOOD PRODUCTION WILLIAM McDONOUGH + PARTNERS I MORRIS ARCHITECTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
05 INTRODUCTION
07 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

OVERVIEW
09 URBAN ROOFTOP AGRICULTURE
+ OPPORTUNITY
11 URBAN ROOFTOP AGRICULTURE
CONSIDERATIONS
13 GROWING SYSTEMS
15 HYDROPONIC GROWING SYSTEMS
19 GREENHOUSES
INVENTORY + ANALYSIS
21 OPPORTUNITY SITES
22 SITE EVALUATION AND COMPARISON
24 SITE SELECTION

DESIGN STUDIES
26 VISION FOR AN INTEGRATED LIFEPLACE
32 STUDY A: CITY HALL ANNEX COURTYARD
38 STUDY B: CITY HALL ANNEX PARKING
44 STUDY C: PEDESTRIAN TUNNELS
46 STUDY D: HOBBY CENTER GARAGE
52 STUDY E: PERMITTING CENTER
58 CONCEPTUAL BUSINESS STRATEGIES

65 SUMMARY AND NEXT STEPS
APPENDIX
68 A: GUIDING PRINCIPLES
70 B: CLIMATE AND CONTEXT
80 C: SITE PHOTOS
86 D: SHADOW ANALYSIS
90 E: RESEARCH
95 F: GROWING SYSTEMS
101 G: BENCHMARKING / CASE STUDIES
104 H: URBAN AGRICULTURE IN OTHER CITIES
107 I: CONCEPTUAL COST ESTIMATE
111 J: RESOURCES AND REFERENCES
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4 CITY OF HOUSTON FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR ROOFTOP FOOD PRODUCTION WILLIAM McDONOUGH + PARTNERS I MORRIS ARCHITECTS
INTRODUCTION
This exploration of the potential for
a rooftop and public-space food production
prototype in downtown Houston was inspired by
work begun by Mayor Annise Parker under the
Go Healthy Houston Initiative. The Go Healthy
Houston Task Force, with the assistance of the
Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and the City’s
Health and Human Services Department, local
organizations such as Urban Harvest and Recipe for
Success, as well as local hospitals and universities
(among many others) initiated a cross-community
campaign to promote food origin awareness;
provide access to fresh, unprocessed fruits and
vegetables; and spur grass roots enthusiasm.
In Houston, as in numerous US cities,
there has been a movement to reclaim underused
land (as well as human capital); to transform
the cityscape through citizen engagement. It is
necessarily an approach that succeeds with many
small victories.
The following report endeavors to make
the case for an equally effective but different
approach. Our goal is to inspire entrepreneurs
and businesses to action at a large scale. We
intend to show, by example, the potential for food
production in a dense, integrated and diverse
city fabric: where it becomes a part of the urban
ecology; where waste streams become nutrient
flows; and where people of all ages and abilities
are engaged. This visioning of alternative design
futures has the potential to truly inspire the people
of Houston and all our cities.
William McDonough, FAIA
November 15, 2013
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Figure 6-A: Conceptual Illustration of Houston City Hall rooftop greenhouses and green roof.
6 CITY OF HOUSTON FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR ROOFTOP FOOD PRODUCTION WILLIAM McDONOUGH + PARTNERS I MORRIS ARCHITECTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Why rooftop agriculture…and why in Houston?
Living productive roofs can be an

important signal of what it means for people,
The economic justification for rooftop This project is focused on a vision for erecting
buildings, and communities to be native
farming is not assured in places with sufficient arable greenhouses for hydroponic gardening on municipal
to place. Bringing food production to our cities
land. Any rooftop installation will incur costs due to property in the Houston downtown. City of Houston
provides a path toward a future of abundance
accommodation by the host building and challenges of staff identified properties with the potential to host
and sustainable growth for all. Through the
access from street level. Given the availability of open a greenhouse on the roof or at grade. Each site was
reimagination of acres of underutilized urban
and vacant land in the City of Houston, there may be evaluated against a set of criteria developed by
rooftops and public spaces, cities can demonstrate
numerous opportunities for cultivation; and indeed WM+P and Morris Architects. The most promising
and illustrate this potential in numerous and
many sites are already being farmed through the efforts sites are ones that are easily accessible and where
powerful ways.
of Urban Harvest and other organizations. Why, then, the agricultural use does not compromise existing
would Houston undertake this initiative? operations. Subsequently, preferred locations that have
At a municipal level, the City of Houston
the best potential for food production were identified
is taking an important leadership step towards
For this project, the City of Houston is looking and design concepts explored at a conceptual level to
inspiring others and promoting urban agriculture
to create a symbol that will inspire private efforts, and visualize the opportunities at the shortlisted sites.
and the benefits of rooftop food production. With
possibly catalyze public-private partnerships. A primary
funding made available through the American
goal is to establish an icon in the downtown civic center The report summarizes and describes
Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), in 2013,
where it will have maximum visual impact and instill each portion of the investigation process including
the City partnered with the Houston Advanced
civic pride. While ground level farming may be suited inventory, analysis and design concepts. Additionally,
Research Center (HARC)/GeoTechnology Research
for logistics and grass roots engagement, it tends to be the document includes an explanation of the concept
Institute (GTRI) to commision the investigation of
limited to conventional notions of what farming can be. of urban and rooftop farming, alternative delivery
the design and feasibility, at a conceptual level,
methods, and describes the benefits of urban
of urban rooftop food production on downtown
Continued developments in hydroponic agriculture to the community and city. The potential
municipal properties. Initial project goals include
agriculture are opening new possibilities for growing sites are identified with a summary of the potential
the following:
large quantities of nutritious vegetables using minimal benefits and risks of each site. Concept visions for four
resources and land area. Large scale farming in areas preferred locations are accompanied by conceptual
• Create a prototype to inspire by example and
of food scarcity (particularly for nutritious food) can sketches and diagrams.
generate interest locally.
provide new options for low income neighborhoods.
This project will showcase the potential for hi-tech
• Engage with the local business community.
agriculture as an alternative to soil-based farming. It
will call attention to this new business opportunity and
• Provide safe, healthy, delicious food that is
career field.
grown within the City and benefits the local
community and children.

Through a request for proposal (RFP)
process, a team led by William McDonough +
Partners (WM+P) was selected to conduct the study
and articulate an overall vision for the potential
future of urban agriculture in Houston. WM+P is
joined by local Houston architecture firm, Morris
Architects.
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ADVANTAGES OF URBAN ROOFTOP FOOD PRODUCTION
Sources: Refer to Appendix for general references
IMPACT DESCRIPTION BENEFITS
Extended Growing Season Heat from the building for exposed rooftop food areas or from within - Higher crop yields
controlled greenhouse environments can extend the growing season - Year-round production
year round.
Separation from Ground-Level Rooftop areas will be out of reach from vandals, ground-level pests - Higher crop yields
Pests and Vandals and grazing animals. Some growing technologies like aeroponics also - Reduced maintenance
eliminate the challenges of airborne pests.
Job Creation Rooftop agriculture can lead to job creation and employ people in the - Local jobs for residents
maintenance, harvesting, sales and distribution of farm yields.
Sustainable Produce for Urban Local agricultural production reduces travel distance between food - Improved food quality
Areas source and consumers. - Reduced costs
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
Improved Building Energy The layers of growing media, plants, and structures such as - Reduced building heating and cooling needs
Efficiency greenhouses create an air buffer and insulation that reduces heat - Reduced building operations costs
transfer from the building. - Reduced emisssions from HVAC systems
Roof membranes are protected by the growing media from harmful UV - Reduced roof membrane maintenance and
Prolonged Roof Membrane degradation, which prolongs its lifetime use. replacement
Durability - Less material waste in land fills
Rooftop farming can be a visual and iconic / symbolic attractor that - Greater public visibility and educational
Marketability increases an organization’s visibility while embodying its ecological opportunities
and social values.
Post-consumer waste from restaurants, kitchens, and cafeterias can be - Reduced waste
Reduced Waste Stream composted and used in the rooftop agricultural process (depending
on the growing methods used).
Valuable but underutilized urban rooftop space can be used for - Effective use of underutilized surfaces
Use of Underutilized Space in productive purposes while maintaining flexible future use of open
Urban Areas sites for potential development.
8 CITY OF HOUSTON FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR ROOFTOP FOOD PRODUCTION WILLIAM McDONOUGH + PARTNERS I MORRIS ARCHITECTS
URBAN ROOFTOP AGRICULTURE AND OPPORTUNITY
Like other major cities, Houston has many
OVERVIEW BENEFITS OF URBAN ROOFTOP AGRICULTURE underutilized rooftop spaces. Reusing and repurposing

unused underutilized urban sites in a productive way
Although the scale, output, technology,
ECONOMIC BENEFITS engages the public and improves the quality of city
and goals have varied from city to city and
• Opportunities for Entrepreneurship spaces. Given high land values and high density in
across time, urban agriculture is a part of human
• Food Cost Savings (Home Gardens) cities, rooftops represent an opportunity to locate
culture and has existed in cities around the world
• Improved Property Values agricultural space in close proximity to consumers.
throughout history. The reasons for farming in
• Improved Tax Base
urban areas are varied and include responses to
• Reduce Capital Costs of Grey Water Optimized rooftops can host production of
macroeconomic conditions (e.g. Victory Gardens
Infrastructure a wide variety of consumable goods, including fresh
during WWI and WWII) and concern for food
• Localization of Manufacturing and Production produce, fish, poultry, eggs, cheese, honey, wax, flowers,
security and survival in developing nations.
medicine, mushrooms, fruits, compost and more.
In developed economies they often reflect a
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
psychological desire for community building,
• Additional Green Space The idea of a local agriculture in an urban
while supporting education and recreation. Urban
• Improved Biodiversity setting has become so rarified that it now seems
agriculture is regarded as a means to combat
• Carbon Reduction (via transport reduction) exotic. This counterintuitive perspective can be put
social, environmental, and economic challenges
• Improved Air Quality to advantage in terms of marketing and branding.
facing people across the world and is viewed as an
• Reduced Food Packaging As demonstrated in cities such as San Francisco and
important part of a sustainable society.
• Reduced Stormwater Runoff New York City, consumers are willing to pay more for
• Reduction of Urban Heat Island Effect local produce (source - Lively’ Hood Farm Strategy
Urban Agriculture has been defined as “the
Plan, 2011). This is due in part to the feeling that local
practice of cultivating, processing, and distributing
COMMUNITY BENEFITS food is grown with high quality control and concern
food in, or around, a village, town or city.” It occurs
• Urban Regeneration for food safety. The perception is aided by the respect
at multiple scales from individual micro gardening
• Improved Neighborhood Aesthetics that organic farming has in the marketplace. Local
to full scale professional agribusiness. In cities
• Food Security agriculture is additionally beneficial due to close
all over the world, this practice is applied to
• Community Engagement proximity to end users, resulting in lower transportation
“rooftops, walls, windowsills, building interiors,
costs and associated greenhouse gases; all with the end
vacant lots, and even on the water.” Technologies
HEALTH BENEFITS goal of providing fresher and thus, more nutritious food.
and processes vary and range from raised beds
• Improved Nutrient Content
to “multi-tiered hydroponic systems using LED
• Improved Healthy Food Access
lighting and aquaculture husbandry.” With an
• Improved Citizenship and General Outlook
estimated 800 million people worldwide engaged
Towards Society
in urban agriculture, 200 million of these produce
to supply local markets. Urban agriculture
EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS
represents a multi-billion dollar market opportunity
• Improved Access to Agricultural Education for
given current and growing demand for agriculture
School Children
products that can be produced intensively in the
• Increased Awareness of Food Origin, Production
city (source - Lively’ Hood Farm Strategy Plan, 2011)
Techniques
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10 CITY OF HOUSTON FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR ROOFTOP FOOD PRODUCTION WILLIAM McDONOUGH + PARTNERS I MORRIS ARCHITECTS