Chicago's Greenway Self Park Follow Up
The Greenway Self Park, a 750-car parking structure in Chicago’s River North that it is promoted as the city’s first eco-friendly parking garage
March 3, 2011 -- A year ago Developer Friedman Properties opened the Greenway Self Park, a 750-car parking structure in Chicago’s River North that it is promoted as the city’s first eco-friendly parking garage.
According to Todd Halamka, AIA, design director at HOK Chicago, the project’s architect, the set of 12 impressive vertical axis wind turbines on the garage’s southwest corner makes evident the garage's eco-friendly nature. The turbines are expected to generate ample power necessary to sustain the structure's exterior lighting.
The parking structure makes use of less obvious energy-saving technologies including a screen wall of channel glass strips. The facade is a departure from the more typical model for multi-level garages in Chicago, which are usually completely enclosed with brick or glass facades. The Self Park’s open cladding makes mechanical ventilation unnecessary, says Halamka.
The garage also incorporates an interior daylighting system that dims in response to daylight levels. Additionally, a rainwater collection system and electric car charging stations. These designated EV spaces are positioned close to the entrance reserved for electric and hybrid vehicles. They also serve as a rental location for the car-sharing service, Zipcar.
It will be interesting to see what impact Friedman Properties' eco-garage vision has on other parking structures - either retrofit or new construction. Connexion whole-heartedly supports this vision. With the technologies available today (correctly applied), coupled with the myriad of available public grants, utility incentives and Federal EPAct tax incentives, investing in sustainability is just smart business - not to mention also good for the environment!
-
Most popular related searches
Customer comments
No comments were found for Chicago's Greenway Self Park Follow Up. Be the first to comment!