Corridors III — Downers Grove, Ill.

Development Team
DEVELOPER: Alter Group, Skokie, Ill.
ARCHITECT (OFFICE): Solomon Cordwell Buenz & Associates, Chicago
CIVIL ENGINEER: C.M. Lavoie & Associates, Downers Grove, Ill.
EARTHWORK: Mario Conte Excavating Inc., Hanover Park, Ill.
STRUCTURAL STEEL: Kingery Steel Fabricators, Lansing, Ill.
BUILDING PLUMBING DESIGN/BUILD: Goss Plumbing Inc., Mundelein, Ill.
FIRE PROTECTION DESIGN/BUILD: Windy City Fire Protection Inc., Elk Grove Village, Ill.
HVAC DESIGN/BUILD: V.A. Smith Co., Wheeling, Ill.
ELECTRICAL AND FIRE ALARM DESIGN/BUILD: Rosset Electric Co., Chicago

Has 'Green' Design Elements

The building incorporates green architecture and sustainable design elements.

High-performance tinted glass deflects the sun's rays and makes the building less costly to heat and cool compared with conventional systems. The roofline sunshade cuts solar gain and reduces the size of HVAC equipment significantly. The flexible-zoned, variable-air-volume system, which is tenant controlled, is reportedly efficient and cost effective.

The 1,000-car parking garage is partially underground to make it unobtrusive. It is also tucked into the topography to make the building the focus of passers-by.

Skokie, Ill.-based Alter Design Builders researched firms within a 500-mi. radius that supply sustainable materials and products from renewable resources. The distance driven and gas required for transport were reduced by purchasing from them.

Alter micro-managed subcontractor schedules and material deliveries to assure the on-time delivery of the building. It also arranged storage at a nearby location because no room was available onsite.

The jury said, "The curtain wall is unique. It's a nicely designed, nicely built building."

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