Chicago Center for Green Technology

Neighborhood Facility
A Deeper Shade of Green

by Karen Schwartz

Located on the western edge of Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood at 445 N. Sacramento Blvd., the Chicago Center for Green Technology has undergone a dramatic transformation that represents the city’s ongoing commitment to implementing green initiatives.

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The 2007 upgrade and renovation, which includes an expansion of CCGT’s Green Building Resource Center to incorporate an additional 2,450 sq ft, is a joint venture between Chicago and the U.S. Green Building Council and is part of the Greenbuild Chicago 2007 Legacy Project. The new space will hold a library, classroom, offices, conference room and volunteer support space.

In connection with each of its annual conferences this year’s conference will be held Nov. 7-9 in McCormick Place’s new West Building the USGBC completes a project to support a local nonprofit organization that is successfully putting into place green building practices and using the LEED green building rating system.

The Chicago Department of Environment-owned building was the first structure in the city to obtain the prestigious LEED platinum designation with 38 out of a potential 50 points and the first building rehab in the nation to receive the platinum designation when it was first renovated five years ago using LEED guidelines established by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The building was originally built in 1952. In 1995, when the city acquired it, the owner was the Sacramento Crushing Co.

(In addition to the Chicago Center for Green Technology, two other buildings in the city have received the prestigious LEED platinum rating: the Center for Neighborhood Technology at 2125 W. North Ave. in Wicker Park and the Exelon Corp. headquarters at 10 S. Dearborn St. in the Loop.)

The center opened to the public in May 2002. It houses organizations that provide environmental products and services, offers seminars about incorporating environmentally friendly features into homes and businesses, and serves as the headquarters of the USGBC’s Chicago chapter.

Getting Greener

In July, Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based Leopardo Construction was selected as the general contractor for the 2007 Legacy Project. Work began Sept. 4 and was due to be complete on Oct. 29, with a ribbon cutting planned for Nov. 1.

Leopardo Construction oversaw the complete upgrade of CCGT’s mechanical systems, HVAC equipment and installation of two new heat pumps. It performed the demolition, carpentry, painting and acoustical ceiling work and made certain that all of the LEED platinum standards were met, which included the monitoring of indoor air quality during and after construction; the reuse of existing materials; and the use of rapid renewal materials that contained a high percentage of recyled content. Its aim was to recycle 95% of demolition and construction debris.

A number of environmentally friendly products were used to complete the project. These included an “eco-friendly” carpet that was made of 100% eco-solution premium branded nylon; PVC-free resilient flooring; recycled ceramic tiles; recyled vinyl wall coverings; bamboo ceiling tiles; 100% post-consumer recycled wall partitions; and other products that were chosen in accordance with green building practices.

No upgrades were made to the water system rainwater is captured and put into a cistern system that stores water in a tank and the landscaping remained unchanged as well. The campus has only plants that are native to the Midwest and does not feature any traditional turf grass.

The CCGT’s energy-efficient lighting system uses integrated LED and automated window shading technology. The facility was designed to maximize the use of natural sunlight to illuminate the building’s rooms and offices while controlling UV infiltration and unwanted glare.

The lighting system is managed by a master control panel that offers specific types of lighting such as general illumination, decorative, accent and task lighting. Aside from the master control panel, the various types of lighting including the harvesting of natural light can be accessed by a remote keypad to create the proper levels of illumination.

Three Leopardo employees were already LEED-accredited professionals before the project began. Twenty-five others have attended a one-day event to learn about sustainability.

The workshop, which was taught by LEED-accredited contractors and architects who are active members of the USGBC’s Chicago chapter, included information about sustainable site construction methods, construction waste management, procurement and documentation of green building materials, and energy and water efficiency.

Tackling the Time Frame

The No. 1 project issue was the time frame, says George Tuhowski III, Leopardo’s general superintendent and chair of the firm’s Green Total Quality Management committee.

“We had five weeks and four days to do the project and to do it following LEED platinum rules,” Tuhowski adds. “We had to design the project, secure all of the products a lot of them were new and not as readily available and secure a permit. As we got closer, we worked extended hours.”

The project was challenging as well for Chicago-based OWP/P architectural firm that performed the design of the building’s mechanical and electrical systems.

“With this building, the objective was to get a LEED platinum rating,” says David Swain, project manager. “This meant we had to achieve a 35% reduction of energy usage vs. a run-of-the-mill project where we just have to meet local energy codes.

“We also had to improve the indoor air quality, which was a challenge because normal off-the-shelf unitary equipment is not designed for the extreme heat and cold introduced by increasing the outdoor air. Therefore, special steps were required to temper the air.”

City officials say the opening of the Chicago Center for Green Technology in 2002 and the recent renovation and expansion have been a magnet for people interested in green technology.

“We know if we’re going to ask Chicago residents and businesses to be more green, we had to do this ourselves as well,” says Suzanne Malec-McKenna, the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Environment.

“We put out this request for firms to partner with us on this new project and received dozens of responses. We got an entire team to work with us many of them pro bono and the project was exciting and energizing.”

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