About our Green Roof

In the spring of 2008, Drum Artz was chosen by Home & Garden Television's Green Force reality show, who came in to revitalize the space around the Drum Artz Community Centre.

What began as an unusable rooftop with no shade and seating for only 6 has been transformed into an urban oasis where the children's and community music & art programs can flourish. Construction was completed in October of 2008, resulting in a new rooftop complete with a thousand square foot deck covered with a large shade sail, stainless steel raised planters full of food plants and fresh herbs and a state of the art green roof system. Besides reducing the costs of heating and cooling the building (leaving more funding for our programs) the Green Roof has been incorporated directly into Community Centre activities. For example, Samba Kidz programming now includes gardening, vermicomposting, growing and learning about herbs and garden vegetables, and learning to cook with fresh ingredients that the kids have grown themselves.

"The Drum Artz building had a lot of space that we could use on the roof. We’re in an urban area with very little access to gardens and park. With a green roof we could grow what we eat and nurture plants and watch them grow. Our green roof is a great educational tool. Our participants learn that you need to take care of the environment because it will take care of you. The social and educational benefits of the green roof for Drum Artz are many, as are the environmental and ecological benefits for the city making it a win-win for all." Gili Gurvitz, Executive Director

"The Green Force Team gives the Drum Artz Community Centre a new beat to march to. Watch Carson Arthur and his Green Force team as they transform an old dilapidated roof into a rooftop oasis." From the Green Force website about the episode. More information is available here.

Drum Artz is a Green Toronto Award 2010 finalist!

Drum Artz has been nominated for a Green Toronto Award in the Green Roof category, for our fabulous green roof at our studio on Primrose Ave. The Green Roof Award recognizes an individual, company or project contributing to a healthy and beautiful city through the environmental, economic and social benefits of green roofs and walls. More information about the award can be found here: Green Toronto Awards 2010

Read about Xero Flor, the green roof's manufacturer and Avenue Road Roofing, who installed it.