The living wall in Guelph’s City Hall is being repaired and the project will be completed by the end of the month.
To ensure the continued comfort of people working and visiting City Hall, the City is performing repairs and adjusting its maintenance schedule as recommended by the City’s Joint Health and Safety Committee. An independent third party has verified that leaks and odours at the wall do not pose any health concerns.
Specifically, the City is replacing the membrane (the media in which plants grow) and plant material used in the living wall. The repairs will cost about $10,000, and are covered in the City’s facility maintenance budget.
Like other city assets (e.g. gardens, pools etc.) the living wall at City Hall requires regular attention. The cost of maintenance, including staff time and materials, is about $11,000-$12,000 a year.
When it is repaired and working properly, the wall is an attractive feature that can improve air quality inside City Hall. The living wall is one way the building was designed to meet the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Standard established by the
Canadian Green Building Council.
The living wall is just one of several projects to be completed this year as part ongoing facility management activities. In accordance with the Corporate Building Maintenance budget, staff will continue managing scheduled maintenance and unexpected repairs quickly, and cost effectively.
As part of an Operational Audit of ServiceGuelph, City Hall’s main entrance, service counter and the living wall area are being evaluated in terms of health and safety, security and customer service. Any long-term plans or potential changes to the living wall will be informed by the audit, and any recommendations will be presented to the
Community and Social Services Committee
for consideration later this year.