BALTIMORE, MD -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 12/11/07 -- The Hilton Baltimore Convention Center Hotel is still about 8 months away from opening, but the hotel has already set several records for Baltimore's building industry -- largest number of rooms offered by any hotel in the city, the largest grand ballroom in Baltimore. Now the Hilton Baltimore Convention Center Hotel will also boast the city's largest living green roof of 32,000 sq. ft. (slightly larger than the Baltimore Raven's football field) spanning atop the hotel's East and West buildings.

Construction of the green roofs began in early November and the green roof on the East building is now complete, including 60,000 one-inch plugs of six different species of plants.

Green roof systems are known for benefits such as reducing storm water runoff, reducing the amount of blacktop roofs in the city thus reducing the heat island effect, and reducing HVAC cooling loads thus lowering utility bills. Green roofs can also extend those roofs' waterproofing membrane life, help to improve air & water quality of the surrounding area, and create natural habitats for birds and other wildlife. Extensive living roofs, such as those on the Baltimore Hilton Hotel, are 6 inches in depth or less, non-irrigated, designed to be light-weight and resilient, as well as meet the specific engineering and performance goals previously mentioned.

As the contractor, Hensel Phelps will ensure that the process for installing the green roofs on each building is executed properly and keeps within the designated schedule for the development of the new hotel.

"It's no secret that Hensel Phelps embraces the concepts of sustainable and green building. We are working with an array of expert companies to build the largest green roof in Baltimore as part of the construction of the Baltimore Hilton Hotel project," said Stan Carlat, Operations Manager with Hensel Phelps' Mid-Atlantic District Office.

Several other firms are playing key roles in the construction of the hotel's green roof. Roofers Ralph J. Meyer Co. of Pittsburgh, PA and local firm Ridge Roofing of Baltimore, MD will ensure that the hotel maintains a water-tight roofing system. Furbish Company of Baltimore, MD, which specializes in sustainable building systems such as green roofs (or living roofs), will handle the installation of the green roof system. The leading supplier of plants and plant expertise for extensive green roof systems, Emory Knoll Farms of Street, MD, is providing the six different species of plants for the green roofs on the Baltimore Hilton Hotel.

The installation of the green roof on the West building of the Hilton Baltimore Convention Center Hotel is expected to begin after the first of the year.

Previously, the largest green roof in Baltimore City was the living roof of 30,000 sq. ft. planted with atop the Montgomery Park office building in the neighborhood of Carroll Park.

Since 1937, Hensel Phelps Construction Co. (Hensel Phelps) has delivered the best value in building services by placing expert construction professionals on every project undertaken. Hensel Phelps is consistently ranked among the top general contractors and construction managers in the nation by ENR (Engineering News Record). For more information, please visit http://www.henselphelps.com.

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