Half Day Tours
Saturday, November 20
Half-day tours on Saturday depart promptly at 8 a.m. from Gate 43 (The West Building Transportation Center Bus Docks). Please arrive by 7:45 a.m. and check in inside the doors.
Find Gate 43 K-12 Schools: Next Generation Green
November 20, 2010
8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Early: Member $70/Non-Member $70
Regular: Member $90/Non-Member $90
Schools are a significant area of focus for sustainable initiatives in the City of Chicago. This tour examines four different types of schools with different missions and perspectives. Attendees will visit two charter schools that are focusing on rehabilitating and updating existing buildings into LEED-certified schools and campuses; one of these schools is also developing curriculum focused on sustainability with a holistic approach with organic livestock and gardens, and training the students in sustainable business practices. The second half of the tour will visit two Chicago Public Schools, including an elementary school and a high school that have achieved LEED for New Construction certification.
Growing Green Jobs in Urban Farming
November 20, 2010
8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Early: Member $45/Non-Member $45
Regular: Member $65/Non-Member $65
It is now predicted that the next generation will have a shorter life expectancy than their parents due to diseases associated with obesity related to consuming low-quality, processed food. Luckily, providing nutritious food locally can reduce costs and training Generation Green to grow it can address these concerns. Chicago is fortunate to be able to showcase two sustainable agriculture facilities on the South Side. The Chicago Sustainable Manufacturing Center is a green business incubator that houses 14 green companies, including The Plant Chicago, which grows food using aquaponics, providing locally-raised tilapia to restaurants in the area. Additionally, the Growing Home Urban Farm and Job Training Center is the first certified organic farm in Chicago. This facility provides job training in the urban agricultural sector, supporting green economies and locally-grown food production. Their produce is sold locally at their own produce stand as well as at farmers’ markets in the area, fine dining restaurants and through subscription based community supported agriculture. Each of these facilities not only produce fresh, local food, but provide jobs and job training for those entering Generation Green in their adulthood.
NeXt Gen Green: Campus Sustainability for the Next Generation
November 20, 2010
8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Early: Member $45/Non-Member $45
Regular: Member $65/Non-Member $65
Some of the most innovative sustainable initiatives from the past few years have their origins in the higher education system. The College of DuPage is the largest single campus community college in the Midwest, with an enrollment of more than 34,000 students. These 34,000 students represent the next generation green. To respond to the massive wake created by numerous sustainable initiatives such as the American Colleges and Universities Presidents Climate Commitment, the AASHE Stars Rating System, and numerous state initiatives for higher education energy efficiency, the College of DuPage has created a comprehensive sustainability plan for their campus. This tour will provide participants with a 360 degree view of campus sustainability including newly constructed LEED buildings, sustainable curriculum presentations, tours of restored prairies, wetlands and a newly installed geo-exchange system, facility engineering insights and waste management policies. The campus energy manager, the architecture professor and the design team will coordinate the presentation and tour for all the materials that help shape generation green before they are ready to make their way in a working world that desperately needs their new perspective on sustainable issues.
Municipal Facilities: Methods and Means
November 20, 2010
8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Early: Member $45/Non-Member $45
Regular: Member $65/Non-Member $65
If your firm specializes in the municipal design arena, or you are trying to promote green within your municipality, this tour is not to be missed. Highlighting a variety of facility programs, this tour includes several of Chicago’s finest Silver and Gold certified municipal buildings.
Ins and Outs: LEED for Core & Shell and LEED for Commercial Interiors in The Loop
November 20, 2010
8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Early: Member $45/Non-Member $45
Regular: Member $65/Non-Member $65
Chicago has a large and diverse collection of LEED for Core & Shell and LEED for Commercial Interiors certified exterior and interior spaces. This walking tour visits three Gold certified projects in the heart of The Loop that range from a corporate headquarters on the top floor of the Aon Centre to a high-rise high school at State and Madison.
Addressing the Whole Patient: Sustainable Health Care
November 20, 2010
8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Early: Member $45/Non-Member $45
Regular: Member $65/Non-Member $65
Health care facilities present both a challenge and opportunity in the development and implementation of sustainable design, construction and operations practices. Issues such as 24/7 operations, energy and water use intensity, chemical use, infection control requirements and formidable regulatory requirements can pose significant obstacles to the implementation of currently accepted sustainability protocols. This tour will provide fascinating insights from both the owner’s and designer’s perspectives and highlight the initiatives that make Advocate Lutheran General a shining example of integrated sustainable design in the health care realm.
Affordable and Green: Greenbuild Legacy Home Project
November 20, 2010
8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Early: Member $45/Non-Member $45
Regular: Member $65/Non-Member $65
Organizations like Habitat for Humanity have been successful in providing affordable housing to families they determine can handle the financial and maintenance obligations of the new homes they build. The anticipated energy and maintenance costs of ownership figure prominently in qualifying potential future homeowners. This project is designed to demonstrate, through the cooperative effort of various local consultants, product manufacturers, and volunteers, the idea of next-generation affordable housing. The combination of durable, long-lasting, sustainable materials will provide a safe, secure and efficient living environment that will substantially reduce maintenance and energy-related operation costs for the designated Habitat for Humanity family. Through this redefining of best practices for affordable housing, more families can be qualified for homeownership through the benefits of reduced ownership costs.