Green roofs are a prominent and increasingly common form of designed ecosystems. Although “ecosystem services” of green roofs are their raison d’être, there are few measurements of many ecosystem processes, and ecosystem science has played little role in the development of green roof systems. In practice, the green roof industry in North America has emphasized a narrow range of non-native species and design specifications. Can ecosystem science influence design? Can designers incorporate ecosystem science results? What are the prospects for influencing industry and policy? This series of talks highlights results from the large multi-discipline project entitled DesignLIFES (Design of Living Infrastructure for Ecosystem Services) that has brought together diverse disciplines including ecology, forestry, civil engineering, and landscape architecture – as well as municipalities and the green roof industry – to address these issues. The session will touch upon the design process, hydrological and thermal performance, enhancing native species use, remote sensing, greenhouse gas flux, and means of enhancing green roof performance through use of biochars.