Construction begins in West Loop on Chicago's first green apartment tower

Ground was broken Tuesday on a West Loop site for what will be Chicago's first green residential building.

“This project will not only stand in the history of Chicago, but I believe in this country and in the world,” Mayor Richard M. Daley said.

Not only is the planned 50-story apartment Chicago’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design registered building, but it marks the first time a new apartment tower has been built in the Loop during the past 15 years.

Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council in 2000, LEED is a program used to measure the design and construction of green buildings. Contractors first register a building with LEED, but until the project is completed the building can not achieve certification.

“Registering is a pretty quick process,” said Lauren Connelly, media director for the USGBC. “Certifying can take a few months afterward, or a few years, it really depends on the project.”

According to Ed Fanselow, an account executive for the Real Estate Communications Group, the process can get expensive, but the growing trend offers benefits to tenants.

“Going green results in the cost savings of the person, who lives in the unit,” he said. “If you rented an apartment here you’d obviously still have to pay utilities. All the very efficient cooling and heating systems and the UV-coated windows help lower energy bills.

Fanselow said he believes the building planned for 215 W. Washington is a big step in Daley’s goal to make Chicago one of the country’s greenest cities. Currently, Chicago ranks second in the country for top USGBC certified and registered cities.

However, some contend that the city could achieve better environmental results by improving what it already has.

“The best way to go green is to quit knocking stuff down,” said structural engineer and preservationist, William Lavicka.

But Donald Smith, CEO of Jupiter Realty, says the interests of corporations are driving real estate. Since the building will be rent only, he intends to cater to a particular type of resident.

“We think we’re going to have a lot of corporate tenants,” Smith said. “A lot of companies want their employees to stay in a green building and also be able to walk to work.”

Jupiter Realty expects the first units of the apartment complex to be available by spring 2010. After finishing the project, Jupiter Realty will start work on a smaller LEED residential building at the northwest corner of Washington and Jefferson.

While he’s unsure of specific costs, Smith says the building’s rooftop and energy-efficient windows will help Loop residents do their part in improving the city.

“It’s definitely going to save energy--how much we don’t know, but at least it’s in the right direction.”