GreenBean

Novak Residence

Location
3339 N. Leavitt Map

Owner
Novak Construction and Development

Architect
IDEA

3339 N. Leavitt is a 4,700 sf, three-story plus basement single-family home. This project falls into the emerging class of quite large homes, that despite their size, seek to be extremely green. The home will be Energy Star rated and most of the green emphasis is on energy-efficiency features, of which ICF construction is the highlight.

Hybrid House I

Location
454 E. 44th St. Map

Owner
Julian Dawson

Architect
Ray/Dawson, P.C.

Hybrid House I is a 2,000 sf, two-bedroom single family home that is as cutting-edge as the immediately adjacent IIT Urban House I. Although privately owned and occupied, the project is being constructed in partnership with the African-American Home Builders Association as a community resource. Like Urban House I, the project has an aggressive passive-solar approach that is boosted by a nearly suburban lot configuration and interior concrete slabs and masonry walls for thermal mass. When complete, this pair of projects will likely be a must-see on the local green building circuit - let's just hope their unusual architectural design doesn't leave visitors with the impression that green buildings in their community must have this style.

Gary Comer Youth Center

Location
7200 S. Ingleside Map

Owner
South Shore Drill Team

Architect
John Ronan

The Gary Comer Youth Center is home to the South Shore Drill Team, a 300-member performance group for children 8 to 18 that performs in parades and on stage. The three-story, 74,000 sf building houses a gymnasium/theater, cafeteria, and many additional spaces such as a computer lab, dance room, and a recording studio. Unfortunately the project is not LEED certified (although it likely could have been), but it was awarded a 2006 Greenworks award. It has been extensively lauded in the media since opening in May 2006, and hosted Mayor Daley's latest re-election bid announcement.

AIA Chicago Offices

Location
35 E. Wacker Map

Owner
AIA Chicago

Design Architects
Daimian Hines
Andrew M. Senderak
Natalie Banaszak

Architect of Record
HOK

photo courtesy Doug Snower Photography

The Chicago chapter of the American Institute of Architects is moving from their current home at the Merchandise Mart to a new office in the historic Jeweler's Building, also home to Helmut Jahn's office. They are seeking LEED for Commercial Interiors certification for this small interior build-out. The chapter held a design competition for young architects which was won by the folks listed above, who completed the project design with the assistance of HOK.

2622 W. Evergreen

Location
2622 W. Evergreen Map

Owner
RpV Development

Architect
Space Architects and Planners

2622 W. Evergreen is a gut rehab of an existing 3-story building with 6 one-bedroom units and a common basement. This project is much more modest in size (4,500 sf of living space) and green goals than many for-sale projects we've covered. It's great that the original number of units is being maintained without adding any floor area - this is an exception to the rule in Chicago, where we often see two- and three-flats being converted into large single-family homes. Although it's not cutting edge, this is the first green project for this developer, and it's a good example of how small developers that already have a system developed can get their feet wet. Our photo is of the existing building before any work was begun.

Westhaven Park Phase IIB

Location
Lake/Wood/Washington/Wolcott Map

Owner
Brinshore Development
Michaels Development Co.

Architect
Landon Bone Baker Architects Ltd.
Brook Architecture Inc.

Westhaven Park Phase IIB is a mixed-income, 213-unit, 30 building portion of the Chicago Housing Authority's redevelopment of the former Henry Horner Homes. 127 rental units in 18 buildings are currently under construction; the remainder are for-sale units to be constructed as a second phase. The buildings vary in size from 4 to 12 units per building. Every unit will be Energy Star rated.