GreenBean

Boocoo Cultural Center and Cafe

Location
1823 Church Street, Evanston Map

Owner
Enterprise Development Foundation

Architect
studioVIM, LLC

The Boocoo Cultural Center and Cafe in Evanston's 5th Ward was built to engage the community at a local level in many different ways.  The 5000 square foot facility, previously a gas station, grocer, and dollar store, now contains a music school, recording studio, 125-seat performance space, yoga and fitness classes, and a cafe specializing in organic and free-trade fare.  Boocoo, in the words of its director Carolina Pfister, aims to be "a long lasting model of sustainability while catering to human health, intellect, and happiness."  The building boasts several traditional green elements such as permeable pavers, and some that are more unique, like insulation made from recycled blue jeans.  But as it turns out, the greenest features of this building are rooted in Boocoo's commitment to all things local.

Evelyn P. Tyner Interpretive Center

Location
2400 Compass Road, Glenview Map

Owner
Glenview Park District

Architect
Wight & Company

The Evelyn Pease Tyner Interpretive Center is the public gateway to the 32-acre Air Station Prairie in Glenview.  The 3000 square-foot Tyner Center educates visitors about the history and ecology of the local Illinois prairie ecosystem, while also serving as a showcase for the cutting edge of green building technology and techniques.  The building was designed by Wight & Company and built by Pepper Construction. Lois Vitt Sale was the architect in charge of LEED issues and sustainable design.  In May 2007, it became the first new building in the Chicago area to achieve LEED Platinum certification.

Ford Engineering Design Center

Location
2133 Sheridan Rd, Evanston Map

Owner
Northwestern University

Architect
Davis Brody Bond

The Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center is the first building on Northwestern University’s Evanston campus built specifically to target certification in environmental sustainability.  The 84,000 square-foot educational and laboratory structure was designed by architects Davis Brody Bond of New York and built by general contractor Turner Construction.  A team from the Rocky Mountain Institute, one of the preeminent leaders in resource efficiency and sustainable design, served as a special consultant to the University throughout the project.