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FEATURE ARTICLE, MARCH 2005
TAKING THE LEED IN SUBURBIA
The Alter Group plans a speculative office building with sustainable design in suburban Chicago
Later this year, The Alter Group will take a large step — but leave a soft footprint — in office development in suburban Chicago. Following the guidelines of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, Alter will soon begin construction on the first planned LEED-certified, speculative office building in the Chicago suburbs. The project, called Corridors IV, will be a 470,000-square-foot, two-building office complex in the 108-acre Corridors business park, located at intersection of Interstates 88 and 355 in Downer’s Grove, Illinois.
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The Alter Group will begin construction on the first planned LEED-certified, speculative office building in the Chicago suburbs later this year.
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“ This is where corporate America is going,” says Daniel Slack, senior vice president and head of the design/construction team with The Alter Group. “It has undergone a sea change, putting great emphasis on sustainability, corporate social responsibility and the mainstay of cost.”
Corridors IV will comprise two 235,000-square-foot buildings that emphasize an urban environment with a sustainable philosophy built in a suburban area. The company turned to architect Helmut Jahn — a global expert in sustainable design — to achieve that vision.
“Jahn has been a leader in sustainable design,” Slack says. “ His expertise has been invaluable in terms of getting where we wanted to go in a fairly expeditious and practical manner.”
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Corridors IV’s exterior glass envelope will reduce solar gain and heat loss while illuminating the office space with natural light.
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From an initial glance, the project is designed to showcase its unique design and green building initiatives. The highly efficient, exterior glass envelope will reduce solar gain and heat loss while illuminating the office space with natural light. Other less visible sustainable elements include a high-efficiency HVAC system, under-floor distribution and state-of-the-art controls for optimum temperature and environmental control. Water conservation will be done by using low-flow plumbing fixtures on the interior and by planting indigenous drought-resistant plants on the exterior. Also, a reflecting pond will be placed in front of the building for storm water detention. To reduce the heat island effect, the company is building a 1,700-car structured parking facility and creating a densely landscaped environment to promote natural shading effects.
But the project’s sustainable approach goes beyond just incorporating environmentally friendly elements into the design. Corridors IV is designed to be incorporated into its surrounding environment. The building borders the 1700-acre Morton Arboretum, which has more than 3,400 varieties of plant life, and provides excellent views of this natural habitat. And at night, even the building’s exterior artificial light will blend in with the environment by using green, blue and yellow light.
“This project is truly unique and will provide a product and a work environment that is unlike any that exists in the market,” Slack says. “This environment will support and aid in the goal of corporate America to attract and retain the best and brightest employees.” Worker friendly amenities will include a fitness center, conference centers, a white tablecloth restaurant and a full-service deli.
While the sustainable design and office amenities add about a 5 percent premium to project’s price tag over a standard speculative office building, Alter feels it is worth the price. “This project returns this investment by increasing the productivity of its tenants — through increased comfort, better floor plans and an environment that straddles nature and commerce — and by achieving dramatic operational savings over time,” Slack says.
The project is scheduled for completion in late 2006 or early 2007.
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