LOCATION New York City, N.Y.
COMPANY John Mini Distinctive Landscapes
DETAILS In the nation’s largest urban area, there’s not many places to fit an award-winning landscape. So, if you’ve hit rock (or, in this case, concrete) bottom, the only place to go is up.
For seven years, John Mini has managed the more than 8,000 ivy plants that make up the living walls of this prestigious hotel. But, as expected, managing this green exterior has some unique challenges.
“(We) really appreciate the client’s trust in our capabilities to service a wall of this importance and size and also the client’s commitment to incorporating natural elements into all their signature properties,” says Keith Behringer, director of business development.
He says tough NYC winters means replacing some plants every year, and accessing the wall is tricky. Maintenance is conducted on a lift truck, and due to the city’s limited space and busy nature, crews arrive extra early to secure parking without impeding pedestrians or the hotel’s operations.
Matt Wessol, director of outdoor, says a living wall like this has no normal routine, especially in the unpredictable climate. Maintenance is dictated by what the wall needs at any given moment, and he praises his team for being adaptable with this project.
John Mini won a gold award from the NALP’s 2024 Awards of Excellence program for this project.
