Chicago DLR Group Office Achieves LEED Gold Certification

CHICAGO - June 6, 2016 - PRLog -- Environmental Stewardship is a DLR Group core value. As a design firm, every project is viewed from a sustainable approach to contribute to human health and wellbeing, functional effectiveness, and maintaining the ecological future of the planet.

When selecting a new location for its Chicago office, DLR Group chose a LEED Certified facility at 333 West Wacker Drive, to ensure that the base building operations were aligned with the firm's core values. This commitment to Environmental Stewardship helped to achieve LEED Gold Certification for the firm's new office, which was also selected by Crain's magazine as the winner of the 'Chicago Coolest Office' award of 2015. A number of features contributed to the LEED Gold Certification:

- Being within a 1/2 mile of a variety of bus and train lines
- Using low flow fixtures to reduce water consumption by 32%
- Using all LED light fixtures to reduce the lighting power density by 23%
- Selecting 79% Energy Star Appliances
- Achieving enhanced commissioning
- Using 100% salvaged wood in entryway and doors
- Reusing 66% of existing furniture and furnishings
- Purchasing new furniture manufactured within 180 miles
- Requiring low VOC paints and primers
- Illuminating 89% of regularly occupied paces with daylight
- Providing 99% of regularly occupied spaces with external views
- Using all LED fixtures to eliminate mercury levels

"Achieving a LEED Gold Certification for the Chicago office is significant," said DLR Group Principal and Energy Services Leader, Ruairi Barnwell. "If DLR Group is going to champion high-performance building design and operations to our clients then we have to lead the way in sustainable best practices. This project also illustrates the power of data transparency and the capabilities of real time analytics of energy performance and indoor environmental quality."

To ensure the ongoing optimization of the indoor environment, occupant health and well-being, the DLR Group office is continuously monitoring and publicly reporting key performance indicators of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).

Air monitors have continuously monitor the IAQ throughout the office in real time. Results are reported to a cloud-based dashboard giving staff real-time access to air quality data. The tracked air quality has been impressive, particularly for new construction which often suffers from increased levels of total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs). Throughout this trial period the particulate matter (PM2.5), TVOCs, and carbon dioxide (CO2) have all been within international healthy limits during all hours of occupancy. The Chicago office is currently on-track to receive Full RESET Certification and would be the first project in North America to achieve this standard.

About DLR Group
Founded as an architecture and engineering firm, DLR Group celebrates 50 years in 2016. Today, DLR Group serves clients through the integrated delivery of planning, architecture, engineering, interiors, and building optimization for new construction, renovation, and adaptive reuse. Core areas of design expertise include Civic, Courts, Detention, Energy Services, Healthcare, Higher Education, Hospitality, K-12 Education, Retail, Sports, and Workplace. Our promise is to elevate the human experience through design. This promise inspires sustainable design for a diverse group of public and private sector clients; local communities; and our planet. DLR Group fully supports the initiatives and goals of the 2030 Challenge, and is an initial signatory to the China Accord and the AIA 2030 Commitment.  http://www.dlrgroup.com