for immediate release

Why Construct a LEED-Certified Building?

New Building Demonstrates Garden's Commitment to Sustainability

Media Only:
Julie McCaffrey
(847) 835-8213
jmccaffrey@chicagobotanic.org

GLENCOE, Ill. (August 26, 2009) — The Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center was designed to achieve the U.S. Green Building Council's gold rating for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The rating system is based on points accumulated in six major categories, including sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design process. LEED standards increase initial building costs but decrease long-term operating expenses. By choosing to build this way, the Garden demonstrates its ongoing commitment to sustainable building and development practices.

The Plant Science Center is home to the Chicago Botanic Garden's science and academic programs. The building expands the Garden's international plant conservation science initiative, and helps to educate the public about the importance of saving the planet by saving plants. In design, construction and operation, the building reflects the Garden's mission "to promote the enjoyment, understanding and conservation of plants and the natural world."

The Plant Science Center provides conservation scientists with a fully functional, energy-efficient workplace that has a minimal impact on the surrounding land and lakes. Plants provide us with everything we need to live our lives — the air we breathe, the water we drink, food, clothing, medicine and shelter. Building designers made a commitment to protect these precious resources without sacrificing function, comfort or beauty.

Support for these features has been provided in part by:
Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Bureau of Energy and Recycling
The Siragusa Foundation

LEED Features
Sustainable Sites
Site Development. The design limits impact on the land by raising the building up on 4.5-foot pillars and landscaping the surrounding area with a rainwater glen that collects and filters runoff from the building and adjacent parking areas.

Heat Island Effect. Light-colored roofing and a green roof garden (16,000 square feet) cover more than half the roof area, reducing the heat island effect.

Alternative Transportation. At least seven bicycle racks and two showers are provided for staff to commute via bicycle. Two parking spaces are for hybrid vehicle parking only and two parking spaces are for carpool/vanpool parking only. The Garden already offers a staff shuttle from local commuter rail stations.

Water Efficiency
Water-Efficient Landscaping. A rainwater glen will surround the building to collect rainwater draining from nearby parking areas and filter it within the Garden’s plant community. The green roof garden system holds rainwater to be used later by the plants. Native plants were used in landscaping, reducing the need for irrigation by half, and no potable water is used for irrigation.

Water Use Reduction. The building will use 30 percent less water through selection of plumbing fixtures (low-flow plumbing fixtures and valves).

Energy and Atmosphere
Optimal Energy Performance. Careful attention was paid to the selection of energy-efficient lighting, mechanical equipment, insulation of exterior walls and roof, windows with low-E and high-performance glass, and air-lock vestibules at all entrances. The building temperature is regulated through radiant heating and cooling built into the floor.

On-Site Renewable Energy. Two hundred eight-eight solar photovoltaic panels on the roof will provide 5 percent of the power needed to operate the building. Since the building is a laboratory, it will require a considerable amount of energy, so 5 percent represents a significant energy savings.

Materials and Resources
Construction Waste Management. Seventy-five percent of the construction waste was diverted from disposal. The erosion and sedimentation plan included silt fencing, sediment traps and basins to prevent pollution of the surrounding area.

Recycled Materials. Twenty percent recycled materials (postconsumer and half from preconsumer) were used in the building.

Regional Materials. Ten percent regionally extracted, processed and manufactured materials (within 500 mile radius) were used in the building.

Certified Wood. FSC-certified wood was used for half the value of all wood used on the project.
Materials Reuse. Trees that were removed from the building site are now seen in the planters and a wall in the library. Ground tires are seen as flooring in the open office areas. Metal shavings were fabricated into bathroom countertops.

Indoor Environmental Quality
Low-Emitting Materials. Building materials were selected to have no or low volatile organic compounds such as paints and coatings, adhesives and sealants, and composite wood and agrifiber products.

Daylight and Views. Clerestory windows in the visitor gallery provide natural light in the center of the building. Clerestory windows over the offices that line the north and south sides of the building and pitched ceilings direct natural light into interior open offices.

Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan. Segregated areas were provided for hazardous chemicals or gases with containment drains and a high level of filtration. Duct-work parts were kept sealed before installation so that they would be clean and dust free when installed.

Innovation and Design Process
Green Roof Garden. Monitoring equipment will help scientists measure the green roof's insulating effect on the building and other factors that will help them determine the best plants to grow on green roofs.

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Editors, please note: The Chicago Botanic Garden's newsroom is online at www.chicagobotanic.org/pr. For digital images, contact Julie McCaffrey at (847) 835-8213 or at jmccaffrey@chicagobotanic.org.

The Chicago Botanic Garden, one of the green treasures of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, is a 385-acre living plant museum featuring 23 distinct display gardens surrounded by lakes, as well as a prairie and woodlands. With events, programs and activities for all ages, the Garden is open every day of the year. Admission is free; select event fees apply. Parking is $20 per car; free for Garden members. The Garden is located at 1000 Lake Cook Road in Glencoe, Ill. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org, or call (847) 835-5440 for seasonal hours, images of the Garden and commuter transportation information.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is managed by the Chicago Horticultural Society. It opened to the public in 1972 and is home to the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden, offering a broad array of adult classes in plant science, landscape design and gardening arts. Through the Division of Plant Science and Conservation, Garden scientists work on plant conservation, research and environmental initiatives that have global impact. The Center for Teaching and Learning brings the wonder of nature and plants to children, teens and teachers. The Garden's Horticultural Therapy and Community Gardening programs provide nationally recognized community outreach and service programs. A program of the Chicago Botanic Garden, Windy City Harvest is an organic vegetable and plant production enterprise that provides instruction in sustainable horticulture and urban agriculture to residents of Chicago’s North Lawndale and West Side neighborhoods.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is a member of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA). The Chicago Botanic Garden is also host to Botanic Gardens Conservation International-U.S., and a member of the Center for Plant Conservation. In 2006, the Chicago Botanic Garden received the Award for Garden Excellence, given yearly by the APGA and Horticulture magazine to a public garden that exemplifies the highest standards of horticultural practices and has shown a commitment to supporting and demonstrating best gardening practices.