University of Michigan

Promoting Health and Well-Being

Praise the Roof

Gift helps fund eco-friendly feature at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital

“It’s a very special opportunity to be a part of such an amazing place,” says Peter Mertz, shown here with his wife, Carolyn.

An exceptional new facility that is poised to help shape the future of children’s and women’s care helps position the U-M as a leader in sustainability, as well. Concerns for environmental stewardship at the new C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital went to the very top—all the way to the building’s green roof.

Funded in large part through a gift from Peter (BS ’74, MBA ’81) and Carolyn Mertz of Hanover, N.H., the Carl and Mary Jane Mertz Green Roof—named in honor of Peter’s parents—features a drought-resistant perennial groundcover called sedum. The eco-friendly roof filters rainfall as part of a natural storm-water management system, reduces heating and cooling costs by 50 percent, improves air quality by trapping airborne dust and dirt, and is expected to last two to three times longer than a conventional roof.

The gift came naturally for the Mertzes. Peter earned his degree from the School of Natural Resources and Environment and is the CEO of Global Forest Partners, a firm that makes private-equity investments in sustainable forestry on behalf of institutional clients. Carolyn Mertz devotes her time to community affairs and served as chair of the board of trustees of the Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich, Vt., which features interactive learning about ecology, technology, and the natural and physical sciences.

“Peter and I have made a lifelong commitment to give of our time, talent, substance, and influence to work with and help others,” Carolyn says. Along with their support of the new building, the Mertzes have provided seed funding for the Pediatric Cardiology Longitudinal Outcomes Program, a study that will improve the quality of life for children with congenital and acquired heart disease.

“We consider it a privilege to support this new hospital and the lifesaving research conducted here,” says Peter. “It’s a very special opportunity to be a part of such an amazing place.”

The green roof strengthens U-M’s commitment to sustainability and its pursuit of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification of the hospital facility. Because the new hospitals occupy a former parking lot, the green roof essentially reduces the amount of paved surfaces on campus. In addition, 93 percent of the material harvested from the building site—more than 200 tons of concrete and asphalt—was recycled for use in the new hospitals.

Other innovative features in the hospitals include no-wax, no-buff floors that require fewer resources for upkeep; high-efficiency particulate air filters; and low-emission interior materials, from carpeting to paint, to ensure indoor air quality.

As the Mertzes exemplify with their support of both the green roof and vital pediatric research, this is truly a facility committed to making an impact on people’s lives while limiting its impact on the world around them.

Read more about the new hospitals in our Q&A with Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs Ora Pescovitz.

Last updated November 14, 2011.

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