search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube instagram Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • TOPICS
    • Cool Roofing
    • Event News
    • Latinos in Roofing
    • Low Slope
    • Legal
    • Metal
    • Project Profiles
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Roofing Safety
    • Steep Slope
    • Sustainable Roofing
    • Technology
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Best of Success
    • Contractor Profile
    • IRE Show
    • Roofing Contractor of the Year
      • Enter Roofing Contractor of the Year
    • Top 100
      • Enter the Top 100
    • Young Guns
    • State of the Industry
    • Century Club
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Roofing Quizzes
    • IRE Videos
    • Webinars
    • Photo Galleries
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Featured Products
  • COLUMNS
    • Editor's Note
    • Exit Planning
    • Legally Speaking
    • Safety Advice
    • Technical Details
    • Guest Column
  • EVENTS
    • International Roofing Expo
    • Webinars
    • Best of Success Conference
    • Industry Events
  • DIRECTORY
    • Associations
    • Distributors
    • Manufacturer/Supplier
    • Business Services
    • Get Listed
  • MORE
    • Roofing Contractor eNews
    • RC Store
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Company Spotlights
    • Classifieds
      • Auctions
      • Business For Sale
      • Business Opportunities
      • Equipment For Sale
      • Positions Available
      • Products
      • Safety
      • Software
      • Services
      • Training
    • Contact Us
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Editorial Calendar
      • Contact
    • Archive Issues
  • SIGN UP!
Low Slope RoofingRoofing Project ProfilesSustainable Roofing

Another Nashville Star Is Born

Massive Green Roof Tops Music City Center

music city
music city 1
music city tn
nature underlaying
dens deck

 Music City Center is a 1.2 million-square-foot conference and convention center that is slated to open in early 2013. Baker Roofing installed the roof systems, which include a vegetative assembly and a light gray PVC system. Photos by Keri Baker. 

pacific
pacific 2
Workers installed 1/4-inch DensDeck Prime cover boards under both roof systems, while 1/2-inch DensDeck Prime was used to span metal deck flutes on uninsulated sections of the roof. Photo by Aerial Innovations of TN, Inc. Courtesy of Georgia-Pacific Gypsum.
insulation

Both the undulating nature of the roof and the added load posed by the vegetative system required a cover board with high compressive strength. DensDeck Prime was set in OlyBond adhesive in the garden roof sections and mechanically installed where the PVC membrane was visible. Photo by Aerial Innovations of TN, Inc. Courtesy of Georgia-Pacific Gypsum. 

music city
music city 1
music city tn
nature underlaying
dens deck
pacific
pacific 2
insulation
January 8, 2013

One of the most innovative — and largest — sustainable roofing projects currently under construction is the Music City Center, a massive, 1.2 million-square-foot conference and convention center taking shape in the heart of downtown Nashville. It is slated to open in early 2013.

Its iconic feature is a four-acre, sandwich-layered section of vegetative roof that mimics the rolling Tennessee hills. It can be seen from miles away from high-rise vantage points around Music City. A lush, grass-like, water-retaining plant called sedum — whose color changes with the season — is the “star” of this roof-top microclimate, as well as a key component of dedicated efforts to earn the facility Silver LEED® certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. But there is an under-the-scenes “player” that is quietly helping the roof get its place in the sun — and that is the roofing system’s inclusion of 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch DensDeck® and DensDeck Prime Roof Boards from Georgia-Pacific Gypsum.

The Center’s construction team selected a light gray PVC membrane from Sika Sarnafil and chose the fiberglass mat-based cover board and thermal barrier because they have proven to be versatile, durable and reliable for a variety of roofing system applications. With their high compressive strength, these panels are especially ideal protection components in vegetative, photovoltaic or cool roofing systems, or for any commercial roof that experiences a lot of foot traffic.

 

Design Poses Challenges

About 28 percent of the 14.5-acre roof is vegetative. According to Andy Baker of Baker Roofing, which handled the installation of the roof systems, the sections without vegetation are covered by two layers of 1.7-inch polyiso insulation and 1/4-inch DensDeck Prime cover boards, which were mechanically fastened to the metal decking with plates and screws. Workers used 1/2-inch DensDeck Prime to span the metal deck flutes at uninsulated sections of the roof. In some areas where lightweight structural concrete was poured in place over a solid metal deck, crews installed Sika Sarnafil’s Sarnavap® over the deck to stop moisture from breaking down the roof system prematurely. In these areas, all insulation, including the 1/4-inch DensDeck Prime cover board, was set in OlyBond® adhesive from OMG, Inc. The system is topped with a fully adhered 60-mil Sika Sarnafil PVC.

The PVC membrane was also installed under the garden roof, but the assembly was a little different for that application. The insulation was mechanically fastened to acoustical metal decking, and an electric field vector mapping (EFVM) screen was installed to detect any possible future leaks. The 1/4-inch DensDeck was set in OlyBond adhesive in the vegetative sections so no screws or plates would come into contact with the membrane under the garden roof components. Water retention mats, stone, growth media and plants were then added to form an inverted membrane roof assembly (IRMA). Pavers tie it all together. Metal wall panels were installed by Kovach Inc. Baker noted that the Center’s innovative design required a strong cover board. “What we were looking for was a product with enough compressive strength to withstand extreme amounts of weight,” explained Baker. “We have a long-running relationship with DensDeck and for this project, we literally rolled it over the roof.”

The undulating nature of the roof, combined with its suspended deck system, were challenging factors that the architects and construction teams had to address. Because the Center will host massive trade shows and other events in its vast exhibit halls and ballrooms, the number of load-bearing columns is limited; many of the columns were replaced by a sophisticated cabling system.

Baker said that the portion of the structure that comprises the suspended area covers three 86,400-square-foot sections, with the main columns located where the sections join. This area also features pre-stressed I-beams that are held in place by the weight on top of the roof, which could be as much as 3.7 million pounds when wet. That poundage will serve as ballast to limit the possibility of wind uplift on the roof.

Baker noted that another advantage of DensDeck® Prime is its primed face, which reduced the amount of adhesive that needed to be used during installation. “For a big project like this, every little benefit like that can mean a lot,” he explained.

 

The Many Functions of the Modern Roof

The Music City Center’s vegetative roof is emblematic of the added importance of the modern commercial roof, which now are multi-use platforms that house a myriad of alternative energy systems and features. For instance, rainwater from the roof will be funneled into a 360,000-gallon collection tank and used to irrigate the roof’s vegetative material and flush hundreds of toilets.

Also, the vegetative roof should help make the Center more energy efficient because it lowers the amount of heat entering the building through the roof, thus reducing cooling system demands during the summer. Providing a habitat for wildlife and an iconic, seasonally-changing, colorful symbol for downtown Nashville are additional benefits.

While these new systems greatly enhance the environmental and economic performance of a building, they must bear additional equipment and more foot traffic — thus bearing a heavier load that would stress traditional roofing systems beyond their capacity. And if one adds to that the economic burden that leaks, cracks and other structural damages would impart, the importance of durable roofs grows exponentially.

 The 178,000 square feet of sedum that covers the green roof will make it the largest “living roof” in the Southeast, according to Green Roofs for Healthy Cities.  

KEYWORDS: auditoriums sustainable roofing Tennessee

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Roofing Contractor Group Publisher Jill Bloom

    Physics, the Power of Authenticity and You

    In February's Publisher's Note, Jill Bloom describes a...
    Editor's Note
    By: Jill Bloom
  • The Family Food Fare supermarket in Midland, Mich.

    ‘Rooftop Ninja’ Discovered Living on Roof, Inside Grocery Sign

    A bizarre tale out of Midland, Mich.: a woman dubbed the...
    Roofing News
    By: Bryan Gottlieb
  • A before and after heat measurement comparison

    How Hot is Too Hot in the Attic?

    If the ventilation is working, how hot should the attic...
    Columns
    By: Paul Scelsi
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Sign Up for the eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Roofing Contractor audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Roofing Contractor or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Snow Guard Solutions for Metal Roofs by S-5!
    Sponsored byS-5!

    Safeguard Your Building: How Snow Guards Prevent Costly Roof & Property Damage

  • A hand holding a wooden block that reads 'EVOLVE'
    Sponsored byWatercress Financial

    Embracing Change: A New Era for the Roofing Industry

Popular Stories

QXO closed its acquisition of Beacon Building Supply on April 29, 2025.

QXO Closes Beacon Acquisition, Rebrands Immediately; Jacobs to Ring NYSE Bell

New executive orders signed by President Trump will likely further constrict an already tight labor market for the construction industry.

New Executive Orders Will Further Squeeze Labor Force

President Trump’s trade war is causing real harm to the construction sector, including roofing contractors.

Trade War Fallout: Contractors Are Delaying Projects and Cutting Crews

Roofing Contractor Webinar

Events

May 22, 2025

Remote Teams 101: The New Way to Hire

Our industry experts will guide you through what remote hiring and outsourcing should look like, how it can help you grow, and why it’s easier (and less scary) than you might think. If you want to save time, find great talent, and grow your business, this is one session you don’t want to miss!

December 3, 2025

The Premier Roofing Conference: Best of Success

Join roofing professionals from across the nation at the 2025 Best of Success conference, the ultimate destination for roofing professionals seeking the latest industry insights and networking opportunities. Pick up strategies for critical challenges like workforce shortage with innovative solutions, explore the latest advancements in roofing technology and sustainable practices, and gain valuable insights from industry leaders on navigating the evolving roofing landscape.

View All Submit An Event

Related Articles

  • Young Guns - Danny Kirkpatrick

    Young Gun Danny Kirkpatrick: Born Into Roofing, Setting Goals Beyond Wildest Expectations

    See More
  • ProVia-ENERGY-STAR

    ProVia Earns 2021 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Sustained Excellence Award

    See More
  • Santa Fe Home with Super Insulation

    This Old House Star Renovates His Historic Santa Fe Home With Super Insulation

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • roofingpic.jpg

    Managing the Profitable Construction Business: The Contractor's Guide to Success and Survival Strategies

  • guyed-steel.gif

    Guyed Steel Stacks

  • 9780128207918.jpg

    Eco-efficient Materials for Reducing Cooling Needs in Buildings and Construction 1st Edition

See More Products
×

Be in the forefront of the roofing industry!

Join thousands of professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing