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Location
1 S. Dearborn Map
Owner
Hines
Architect
Richard Keating (Design)
DeStefano + Partners (Architect of Record)
One South Dearborn is a 40-story, 820,000 sf office tower that has earned LEED for Core and Shell Silver certification. The building was completed in late 2005 and like any new loop high-rise has been extensively reviewed and discussed (e.g. general information here, Blair Kamin's review here {fee}, and construction discussion here).
This is the second LEED certified tower in Chicago, following 111 S. Wacker (future post). It is unlikely that major developers such as Hines or John Buck will build another downtown high-rise that isn't LEED certified. This is partly because there are at least anecdotal reports of more-educated commercial office tenants asking for green core-and-shell space, but mostly because for those already building high-quality buildings, it isn't too difficult to step up just a bit and earn LEED certification.
For example, One South Dearborn includes a fitness center with showers (common in this type of building), probably not included just for bicycle commuters' benefit, but accessible to them nonetheless. Many smaller buildings can't or won't consider adding showers. Hines also uses a low-temperature (48ºF) HVAC system as standard on it buildings, contributing toward energy savings, and has a standard commissioning process used on all buildings.
The project includes the usual mix of low-VOC and recycled-content materials and claims a fairly high amount (41%) of regionally assembled materials. Other unusual features that don't necessarily contribute to LEED certification and may or may not be considered green (depending on the beholder) are ultraviolet air purification and a Filtrine drinking water system.
I'll credit Hines for not only building green but also seeking to operate their large portfolio of existing buildings as efficiently as possible - they were named as an EnergyStar Partner of the Year for three consecutive years. Hopefully this is partially a result of a developer that builds properties to own and lease rather than sell (in the latter case the developer has no financial incentive to build efficiency into the building).
Finally, I must point out that, like essentially all new office towers in Chicago, this is an all-electric building, including electric resistance heat, which is almost never environmentally preferable (see here or here - scroll almost to bottom - to understand why). Although one man's rantings can't change the market in Chicago, I will always complain about this. For commercial office towers it isn't quite as egregious because they primarily require cooling, but the electric heat trend seems to be growing in residential buildings as well.
Other project team members include MEP engineer Alvine and Associates, structural engineer Halvorson and Partners, LEED consultant BVM Engineering, civil engineer McClier, landscape architect Daniel Weinbach and Partners, and building automation consultant HMA Consulting.
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