Project Name: Pentagon RDF and Pentagon Building- LEED™ 2.0 Certified
An aerial shot of the RDF facility. The four grass squares in the middle of the photo are Grasspave2 heliports. Helicopters land on the concrete pad, the small pentagon shape with the “H,” and hop over to the Grasspave2 pads for parking.
A closer look at the Grasspave2 heliports, before final renovation. Some modifications were done after this photo was taken. See final version in photo 1.
The site before renovation began. Note the old heliport on the left side of photo. Gravelpave2 will be installed near what is labeled “River Terrace.” Photo courtesy of the Pentagon’s renovation web site.
The conceptual drawing before renovation began. Photo courtesy of the Pentagon’s renovation web site.
Product: Grasspave2 turf reinforcement mat
Application: Helicopter Landing Pad
City: Arlington
State/Province: Virginia
Install Date: July 2003
Install Size: 2040 m2 (22,000 sq ft)
Address: Pentagon Renovation Program 100 Boundary Channel Drive Arlington, VA 22202
Client: Pentagon Renovation Office
Designer: Lee and Associates, Landscape Architects and HDR Architects
Contractor: Facchina Construction CO.
Directions: From the Springfield, VA area: 1. Take I-395 N 2. Take the VA-27/Washington Blvd. exit, exit number 8B, towards PENTAGON/ ARLINGTON CEMETERY/ ROSSLYN/ MEMORIAL BRIDGE. 3. Merge onto WASHINGTON BLVD. 4. Take the ramp towards PENTAGON NORTH PARKING ENTRANCE.
Location: Grasspave2 – roof of the Pentagon RDF Building, North part of Pentagon. Gravelpave2 – East side entrance of Pentagon Building.
Photography: Sisson Studios, Pentagon Renovation web site
Summary: Grasspave2 was selected as a “green” alternative for helicopter landing pads. The Pentagon RDF is the largest green roof east of the Mississippi, and Lee and Associates, Landscape Architects, needed to keep as much of the landscaped look as possible. Grasspave2 has a high compressive strength (5,721 psi) more than adequate to land a helicopter – other installations have seen jet aircraft driving over the system. The Pentagon RDF is also a LEED Certified project. Grasspave2 helped get the certification with its 100% recycled content, stormwater benefits, and heat island mitigation.