Good to be green

While being green might not have been easy for Kermit the Frog, the developer of Chicago's 340 on the Park has discovered that being environmentally friendly also has been good for business.

340 on the Park, on track to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) silver certification standard, is nearly sold, while sales for much of the residential real estate market have stalled. It will be the first residential tower in the Midwest to meet the U.S. Green Building Council's silver certification standard.

The 62-story 340 on the Park, at 340 E. Randolph, overlooks Grant and Millennium parks on the south and The Park at Lake Shore East on the north. The first owners already are living in the tallest all-residential tower in Chicago, which will be complete by the end of the year.

Seeking to create an extraordinary building was key to the design team's early commitment to the environmental certification, said Kerry Dickson, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Related Midwest.

"We wanted to differentiate our building and our company as forward-thinking," he said.

While most buyers made their purchasing decision based on location, cost and the quality of the finishes and amenities, several purchased because of future cost savings.

"We have several purchasers who are into sustainability and know that living here will save them money in the future because of reduced energy costs," Dickson said.

LEED certification involves a point system with required prerequisites. It affects many aspects of building design, construction and operation, such as energy efficiency, water use, interior air quality, site selection and materials.

Designing and building the first LEED-certified residential tower in the Midwest had its challenges, since it required pioneering new ways of thinking and working for the area, according to Don Biernacki, senior vice president for construction at Related Midwest.

For example, the firm initially set a goal of 50 percent for the percentage of the building's construction waste that could be diverted from the waste stream toward recycling. But over time, the firm's scavenger service developed a market for recycling construction waste, so 340 on the Park was able to divert 82 percent of its construction waste -- more than 2,800 tons -- from landfills to be used in projects such as road beds.

Green construction practices at 340 on the Park included using locally produced and recycled building materials, an indoor air quality management plan to keep mechanical systems clean during construction so dust is not trapped in air ducts, and the implementation of an erosion and sediment control program to minimize impact on storm water systems.

The building's exterior curtain-wall system of low-E tinted glass and aluminum panels in an aluminum frame provides a continuous exterior surface that minimizes the amount of energy traveling in and out of the building, reducing energy consumption compared to more traditional structures.

340 on the Park utilizes sophisticated building management systems to control mechanical systems. Variable speed toilet, kitchen and laundry exhaust fans operate according to demand load. These systems and thermal properties of the enclosure system allow the building to use about 10 percent less energy than a building designed strictly to meet code requirements.

To minimize the "heat island" effect of dark-colored roofs and paving surfaces that absorb the sun's energy, the building has two "green" roofs. They include a highly reflective, light-colored roof at the very top of the building, and a landscaped second-floor roof with soil to absorb rain water to be used later by the plants, reducing the storm water entering the city's water processing system.

Extensive plantings at the plaza level absorb storm water, also reducing the amount of water that goes into the storm water system.

Rainfall is captured and held in an 11,000-gallon capacity storage tank under a ramp in the garage to irrigate the landscape. The building uses a drip irrigation system to minimize water usage.

In order to reduce the need for virgin materials and cut back on energy consumption, the green construction practices relied on many recycled and locally manufactured or harvested construction materials.

Inside, materials were thoughtfully chosen. Stone composite countertops, made especially for the building, are composed of 85 percent quartz and 15 percent resin and resemble limestone, but are more durable.

A two-story main lobby with brown elm paneling features a floor-to-ceiling glass wall, showcasing street views of the parks and landscaping. Handmade wool carpet and furniture in blues, greens and grays draw from the lake, sky and greenery outside.

Bamboo, which grows quickly, was selected for its beauty as flooring in the living room, dining room, kitchen, hallways and powder room of each residence, as well as to preserve less renewable wood resources.

Nearly all residences include private outdoor balconies or sky terraces.

The entire 25th floor will be devoted to amenities. On the south, there will be a two-story landscaped winter garden, designed to provide residents with a common outdoor terrace. The floor also includes a fitness room, 25-yard lap pool, clubroom lounge for gathering or entertaining, and Wi-Fi access. A first-level bike room accommodates 344 bikes.

Six levels of underground parking are provided for residents. The building will have an I-GO car exclusively for residents' use. I-GO is a Chicago-based not-for-profit car-sharing company providing low-emission vehicles available for rental by the hour.

Six of the 340 homes remain. For information, call 312-595-7400 or visit www.relatedmidwest.com.