This apartment complex near the harbor in Baltimore, Maryland, has the complete outdoor space. On the third floor, you’ll find a courtyard for gatherings, along with a separate, more secluded garden. A pool offers stunning harbor views from the ground level, while new plantings of shrubs, trees, and perennials soften the perimeter of this city lot.
For over a year, Live Green Landscape Associates, LLC, based in Reisterstown, Maryland, was at the forefront of creating this unique space, leading them to win a 2024 Gold Award of Excellence.
“To win an award of excellence on this project is an honor,” says Kevin Crawford, assistant project manager at Live Green. “It makes all the hardships, challenges, and difficult decisions worthwhile. To put it all together and receive recognition on a national scale is hard to quantify. If anything, Live Green Landscape Associates is most proud of the crews that worked on the install week in and week out. Their time, talents, and treasures are what made this project award-worthy. Live Green is proud of our team!”
Being in a central location, the team was mindful of street traffic from start to finish. Materials couldn’t be staged near the street, so close communication was needed to keep things moving. That coordination involved 25 individuals from Live Green, as well as other contractors and vendors. Another challenge was transporting materials onto the roof, which required the exact placement of a crane and the right people to carry out the crane plan.
“Access to certain areas around sites are generally cut off when cranes are active, so you also need to be very specific where you are staging materials,” Crawford says. “For this job, we had to specifically time the deliveries and even hoist materials from directly off the trucks.”
Schedules were sent to the general contractor up to a week in advance to keep the deliveries organized and efficient.
This site also required special training to show the difference between installing material on grade versus on a rooftop.
“Some examples of tasks we trained for were materials that needed to be tied off, how to wear proper safety harnesses, and how to rig for a lift,” Crawford says. “We also focused on storing tools and materials away from any edges or open areas around the building. During hoisting, it was important to ensure everything was properly secured with no defects in the hoisting equipment.”
During the project, the team unloaded 500 cubic yards of soil, 60 tons of exotic gravel, and several 4″ caliper trees.
With the rooftop layout complete, the new materials could be staged as they arrived on the roof. The goal was to create a natural feeling in each space, so the team installed a range of hardscape beds from 2-5 feet deep, filling them with trees, grasses, and other perennials. New irrigation was brought in using extra caution to avoid damaging the membrane of the new system.
“We had to make sure nothing punctured the roofing membrane since it had been previously flood tested,” Crawford says. “The installation of drain tiles and hard foam board helped to lessen the risk and mitigate any materials from touching the waterproofing membrane.”
Artificial turf was also added to lower maintenance needs and provide a sustainable lawn.
Before Live Green could install new trees and shrubs, they had to remove two feet of unusable soil in the ground-level areas. This includes a large bed near the pool, where the contractors added a new fence to prevent trespassors from the public boardwalk. However, this made it difficult to install new plantings with only a few feet of space between the fence and the boardwalk. Drifts of Karl Forester grass were planted to create a beach-like atmosphere for tenants while providing privacy from the boardwalk.
While the project’s main focus was the outdoors, indoor plantings were also a priority. As residents enter the lobby, they’re greeted with tropical greenery featuring ZZ plants (Zamioculcas zamiifolia), spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum), and other tropical species. A unique planting mix is used to encourage good drainage in the bed.
“The tropical soil mix was custom, and certain materials were added to match the species’ natural soil/environment,” Crawford adds.
These apartments were leased before the building was complete, so the project deadline could not be moved. With clear communication, the team was able to coordinate deliveries, tasks, and complete everything by the deadline. Not only that, but everyone was satisfied with the result.
“What really stands out is the final product itself,” Crawford says. “Watching how it all comes together and seeing other people enjoying the final product is extremely rewarding. The client and design team were pleased with how the vision for the project stayed true and came to life.”
Interested in participating in the Awards of Excellence? Enter your projects by July 31, 2025.
