Press Release
GreenWorks Project Wins Sustainable Design Award
“Green” Household Products and Electronics Recycling Center wins ACEC-Illinois Honor Award
(CHICAGO - February 12, 2007) – GreenWorks Studio and partner company, Harley Ellis Devereaux , were recently recognized by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC-Illinois) for their work on Chicago’s newest—and greenest- -recycling facility, the Household Materials and Electronics Recycling Center. The partner companies, along with other members of the project team, received an Honor Award during ACEC-Illinois’ 36th Annual Engineering Excellence Awards. The Honor Award is ACEC-Illinois’ highest level award, recognizing exceptional engineering that meets the needs of the client and benefits the public welfare.
The Center, located on Goose Island, is the first of its kind to use green technology. As part of the multidisciplinary team* hired by the City of Chicago to design an innovative materials collection facility, GreenWorks Studio provided Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) consulting services and Harley Ellis Devereaux provided interior and exterior design services. The facility gives residents of Chicago and surrounding communities a “safe” place to dispose of chemical and other wastes such as paints, solvents, motor oil, household cleaners, lawn and garden chemicals, gasoline, mercury and fluorescent light bulbs as well as electronic equipment, computers and cell phones.
The Center is comprised of two separate structures—a collection and processing building for the drop off of materials and a training center used for the teaching of ex-offenders in the recycling and refurbishing of electronic equipment.
Located on the site of a former warehouse and incinerator space, the 14,000-square foot building’s sustainable design elements include a solar wall for passive pre-heating of the air, a vegetative wall system, water efficient fixtures and an underground storm water infiltration and retention system with bioswale to assist in storm water retention and ground water purification. The training facility features day lighting sensors combined with natural skylights for energy efficiency as well as a new lightweight vegetative roofing system. An adaptive reuse project, the Center also incorporates creative reuse of materials such as metal siding removed from the exterior of a demolished portion of the existing structure and reinstalled in the training facility.