Among the many features of the Center (Almanac February 22, 2011) are two green roofs that offer a dramatic overlook of Walnut Street. They are equipped with several plants and shrubs as well as benches and tables.

Penn’s oldest green space remains a peaceful, secluded campus landmark which opened as a research garden in 1897. In 2000, Richard, W’43, and Jeanne Kaskey donated funds to renovate the Bio Pond, which was dredged, relined and its edges redefined. A waterfall and weeping water walls were added to provide drinking spots for birds. The Kaskeys subsequently endowed the Memorial Park, to continue its care (Almanac May 1, 2012).

The second green roof on campus opened in 2009 (Almanac October 13, 2009), the gift of alumna Mary Anne Spolar Gamba and the Gamba Family Foundation. This rooftop garden on the fourth floor features a fountain assembled from 5,000 stones as well as a wide variety of flora.

On top of English House sits the first retrofitted green roof on campus, completed in spring 2008 (Almanac September 30, 2008). The roof features a unique multi-terraced design that supports plant life and improves drainage.

Penn’s historic law school complex was expanded in 2012 with Golkin Hall, which features several rooftop gardens. The green roof installations not only provide attractive areas for student and faculty collaboration but also reduce the amount of storm water entering the city’s combined sewer/waste water system, and counteract the heat-island effect caused by conventional dark roofs.

This lawn area next to Penn Dental’s Robert Schattner Center was funded by a gift from Robert and Kay Schattner in honor of the School’s former dean. The garden features a variety of plant life, but also plenty of open space, making it an ideal location for events (Almanac November 23, 2004).

Located at the busy intersection of 33rd, 34th, Spruce, and South Streets, this garden, a former parking lot, opened in 2013, supported by a $1 million gift from its namesake Edward W. Kane (Almanac July 16, 2013). It serves as a welcome green space amidst the Penn Museum, Franklin Field and Penn’s Health System.

At 39th and Walnut Streets, the Fels Center for Government occupies a Colonial Revival home built for Samuel Fels in the early 20th century. The adjoining terrace and garden have been used for outdoor classrooms, receptions and Alumni events for years. The recent garden restoration project in 2010, of the stone terrace, brick walks, seating and fencing was designed by Robert Lundgren, University Landscape Architect. The project also included native perennial plantings, with American Beech, Holly and Cherry trees.

Created by the Class of ’57, this garden, with John Harrison, Penn chemist, standing amidst the garden extends along the diagonal walkway from Smith Walk to 33d Street. It contains 10 boulders which represent Philadelphia from 1 billion to 25,000 years ago.

In 2002, members of Penn’s class of 1942 pledged to renovate the garden in front of Kelly Writers House during their 60th reunion. The garden, which opened a year later (Almanac September 23, 2003), provides a peaceful green space along the busy Locust Walk.

In front of the Duhring Wing of the Fisher Fine Arts Building is a tranquil spot designed by Beatrice Fenton in 1938. It has been renovated several times over the years, most notably in 1977 (Almanac April 19, 1977).