Largest Passive House office building in the U.S. will be built in Chicago’s West Loop

A 12-story office building planned for 310 N. Sangamon in Chicago’s West Loop will become the largest office building in the U.S. to achieve Passive House certification (and only the second building overall) if plans recently unveiled by Mark Goodman & Associates, Inc. pan out. The building will offer 268,000 sf of office space and 7,800 sf of ground-floor retail.

The SCB-designed building will feature a dedicated ventilation system that will provide filtered, tempered, and 100% outdoor air to help keep employees more comfortable, alert, and productive. The interior spaces will use low VOC finishes and furniture to avoid out-gassing, which lowers air quality and presents both short- and long-term health effects.

The entrance at 310 N. Sangamon is pedestrian- and bike-friendly to welcome both office tenants and visitors to its 268,000 square feet of office space and 7,800 square feet of ground-floor retail. Courtesy SCB.

Office space will be dedicated to floors three through 12, while the second floor will feature an indoor parking garage with space for 47 cars. A fitness room, outdoor terrace, and bike storage room will be available to tenants.

310 N. Sangamon still needs zoning approval, but if completed it is expected to use about 86% less heating energy and 46% less cooling energy that traditional buildings.

Climate change is having a dramatic impact on urban design, in terms of planning, materials, occupant use, location, and the long-term effect of buildings on the environment. Joining BD+C's John Caulfield to discuss this topic are two experts from the Boston-based CBT Architects: Kishore Varanasi, a Principal and director of urban design; and Devanshi Purohit, an Associate Principal.

Energy | Jul 13, 2022

Electrification of buildings, new and old, furthers environmental responsibility and equity

It’s almost a cliché in our industry, but nonetheless: The greenest building is the one that is already built.

Codes and Standards | Jul 12, 2022

USGBC sets out principles for LEED’s future

The U.S. Green Building Council recently published a report containing principles outlining how LEED will evolve.

Building Team | Jul 12, 2022

10 resource reduction measures for more efficient and sustainable biopharma facilities

Resource reduction measures are solutions that can lead to lifecycle energy and cost savings for a favorable return on investment while simultaneously improving resiliency and promoting health and wellness in your facility.

Building Team | Jul 1, 2022

How to apply WELL for better design outcomes

The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) cites attracting top talent, increasing productivity, and improving environmental, social or governance (ESG) performance as key outcomes of leveraging tools like their WELL Building Standard to develop healthier environments.