BOMA Chicago Announces Winners of 2011-2012 TOBY Awards
January 31, 2012 by matt · Leave a Comment
The Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago (BOMA/Chicago) announced the winners of “The Outstanding Building of the Year” (TOBY) Awards at an awards gala over the weekend. The TOBY Awards are designed to recognize excellence in office building management across several categories based on building size and type. The buildings were judged on tenant relations, commitment to environmental sustainability, emergency preparedness, budgeting, work order systems, security standards, staff experience and continuing education opportunities.
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Mayor Emanuel Announces Improvements, Expansion to ‘L’ Line
January 18, 2012 by matt · Leave a Comment
A rendering of the proposed Cermak stop on the Green Line. Image courtesy of CDOT.
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The Chicago Energy Code Turns Ten
December 15, 2011 by matt · Leave a Comment
By Linda Seggelke
Ten years ago, the city of Chicago introduced its Energy Conservation Code, based largely on the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). The 2001 Chicago Energy Code was written to increase savings by lessening energy drain both commercially and residentially.
In that time, it has been revised twice: in 2006 and 2009. These revisions have seen some modest gains in efficiency. The 2009 edition, for example, contains a 15% increase in overall energy savings beyond the 2006 book.
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Chicago’s Own High Line: The Bloomingdale Trail
December 15, 2011 by matt · Leave a Comment
By Jon Sedey
Photo: David B. Gleason
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O’Hare Goes Green. Big Time.
December 15, 2011 by matt · Leave a Comment
By Matt Baker
Courtesy Chicago Department of Aviation
The project was designed to reduce delays and increase capacity at the airfield. Spend some money now, the thinking goes (the current OMP budget is estimated at $8 billion), and make more later once O’Hare’s prominence as a transportation hub is carried on into the 21st century.
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The Nine Largest Green Roofs in Chicago
December 15, 2011 by matt · Leave a Comment
 #1 Millennium Park |
Spanning roughly 24 acres, the 1,067,220 square foot Millennium Park is considered one of the largest green roof projects in the world. Completed in 2004, the $475 million project includes landscape art, full grown trees, interactive water fountains and a skating rink in the winter. What many people forget is that the roof actually covers two parking garages, a transit center and the 1,525 seat Harris Theater. |
 #2 Soldier Field |
Situated in Chicago’s museum campus lies Soldier Field, home to the Chicago Bears. The stadium serves as a memorial to soldiers who have passed away in previous wars. The field itself sits at grade over a parking garage and is approximately 239,580 square feet. |
 #3 FedEx O'Hare |
The roof atop the FedEx O’Hare sorting facility is a component of the O’Hare Modernization Program. At 175,000 square feet, it is the largest green roof on a free standing building in the Chicago area. Intrinsic Landscaping, Inc developed the structure that requires special requirements for foreign object debris in an active airspace. |
 #4 McCormick Place West |
The McCormick Place West expansion created a facility that would allow a unique experience for every visitor beneath an impressive 150,000 square foot vegetative roof. The approximately 20,000 vegetated trays help reduce the heat island effect as well as heating and cooling costs. |
 #5 Menards (Humboldt Park) |
Completed in May 2009, this Humboldt Park Menards store is one of several extensive roof structures in the city. The 104,556 square foot green roof was the last part of the building to be completed. Construction delays created a small time frame for the roof to be installed, which had to be finished prior to its grand opening. The roof was completed in just ten days, equal to more than 10,000 square feet per day. |
 #6 Quinlan Life Sciences |
The Quinlan Life Sciences Center houses the department of biology at Loyola University. Within this building, research instrumentation includes a complete microscopy facility, digital imaging equipment and coincidentally, greenhouses, an insectary and artificial streams. The science center is topped by a 100,000 square foot green roof. |
 #7 Fletcher Jones Mercedes Benz |
The Fletcher Jones Mercedes Benz dealership is an 80,000 square foot facility with state of the art, environmentally friendly technology. The building is also LEED silver certified and has low-flow water features and regional building materials. The 80,000 square foot green roof was completed in 2009 using custom-made vegetated mats. |
 #8 Aqua |
The 80,000 square foot garden at the base of Aqua provides residents with a natural, eco-friendly landscape that is both functional and attractive. The garden uses a drip irrigation system to water the low evergreen and deciduous plantings. In addition, a continuous drainage layer allows excess water to flow under soil, gravel and concrete walls to drains and pipes. It also fights the heat-island effect during the hot summer months by lowering ambient temperatures. |
 #9 ABN Amro Plaza |
The 74,700 square foot green roof at ABN Amro Plaza was built initially for use by employees of the international financial firm. Half planted area and half pavers, the plantings include a mix of trees, perennial plants and annual flowers. The trees were planted fairly large and have grown quickly, so the green roof looks mature and gives a true garden feel. |
Chicago River Improvements Include New Boathouses, Pollution Controls
September 21, 2011 by matt · Leave a Comment
Click to enlarge.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced on Monday a plan to enhance the Chicago River’s recreational appeal. The future development would be grounded by four new boathouses, several new boat launches, expansion of riverfront trails and pollution controls of the famed waterway.
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Emanuel Looks to Clean Up Chicago Recycling
September 14, 2011 by matt · Leave a Comment
By Susanna Weatherford
The City Council adopts the goal of making regular recycling service available by July 1, 1993, to 100 percent of the households in low-density dwellings served by the City of Chicago.
So begins the section of the Chicago Municipal Code regarding regular recycling service. To put that in perspective, Chicago Bulls fans were wearing out the word “threepeat” in July of 1993, the Unabomber was still on the loose and David Letterman was preparing his switch from NBC to CBS.
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Green Building Goes Back to School
September 14, 2011 by matt · Leave a Comment
By Matt Baker
Federico Garcia Lorca Elementary, which opened in the Avondale neighborhood last year, features a vegetated roof over half of the school.
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Local Wholesale Produce Distributor Aims to Reinvent LEED Standards
September 14, 2011 by matt · Leave a Comment
By Jon Sedey
Situated in the Back of the Yards Neighborhood in Chicago’s Stockyards Corridor sits what many hope to be the pioneer in the food service distribution sector. Testa Produce, Inc., an independent wholesale produce distributor, opened its doors to their new, 91,000 square foot, $23 million facility.
On track to become the nation’s first LEED Platinum food distribution facility, everything from the parking lot to the food refrigeration system is a result of President and owner Peter Testa’s vision. “Part of being in the agricultural business is to have a responsibility to take care of the earth a bit better,” said Testa.
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