Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) called on downtown office building tenants like themselves to take the next step in major energy savings and exceed the Chicago Energy Challenge commitments announced by Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Working with its own landlord at the historic Santa Fe Building, 224 S. Michigan Ave., SOM is collaborating with fellow architectural firms Goettsch Partners and VOA to partner with building owner University of Notre Dame and manager Hamilton Partners to drive energy savings beyond the 20% reduction pledged today at the Mayor’s press conference.
“Building ownership and management can control only a portion of energy use, while it is the tenants who can really move the needle of energy reduction by their consumption choices and actions,” said SOM managing partner Richard Tomlinson, who attended the Mayor’s announcement.
“Turning off our powerful computers and multiple monitors at night, better managing our office lighting, and many other techniques can take the Mayor’s energy challenge goals far beyond those announced today,” Tomlinson said. “Engaging tenants as we have done at the Santa Fe Building is the next step in energy and carbon dioxide reduction, and one that tenants will carry home to their neighborhoods.”
Hamilton Partners is preparing to equip the three architecture firms with energy-use monitors that will give the tenants real-time feedback and motivation to constantly improve the energy efficiency of their operations.
SOM began working with the Mayor’s chief sustainability officer Karen Weigert and Craig Sieben of Sieben Energy Associates in January, to identify and recruit the leadership group of buildings announced today. Many of the energy challenge organizational meetings took place in the Santa Fe Building, in the penthouse of which Daniel Burnham and Edward Bennett created the 1909 Plan of Chicago. +
Related Stories
| Jan 16, 2014
ASHRAE revised climatic data for building design standards
ASHRAE Standard 169, Climatic Data for Building Design Standards, now includes climatic data for 5,564 locations throughout the world.
| Jan 15, 2014
6 social media skills every leader needs
The social media revolution—which is less than a decade old—has created a dilemma for senior executives. While its potential seems immense, the inherent risks create uncertainty and unease.
| Jan 15, 2014
Report: 32 U.S. buildings have been verified as net-zero energy performers
The New Buildings Institute's 2014 Getting to Zero Status report includes an interactive map detailing the net-zero energy buildings that have been verified by NBI.
| Jan 14, 2014
Sherwin-Williams unveils colormix 2014
Drawing influence from fashion, science, nature, pop culture and global traditions, Sherwin-Williams introduces colormix™ 2014, which captures colors that inspire creativity and design in today’s world. The four-palette collection provides design professionals with a guide to help them define the moods they want to create and select colors for their projects.
| Jan 13, 2014
Custom exterior fabricator A. Zahner unveils free façade design software for architects
The web-based tool uses the company's factory floor like "a massive rapid prototype machine,” allowing designers to manipulate designs on the fly based on cost and other factors, according to CEO/President Bill Zahner.
| Jan 13, 2014
AEC professionals weigh in on school security
An exclusive survey reveals that Building Teams are doing their part to make the nation’s schools safer in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook tragedy.
| Jan 13, 2014
6 legislative actions to ignite the construction economy
The American Institute of Architects announced its “punch list” for Congress that, if completed, will ignite the construction economy by spurring much needed improvements in energy efficiency, infrastructure, and resiliency, and create jobs for small business.
| Jan 12, 2014
CES showcases innovations: Can any of these help you do your job better?
The Consumer Electronics Show took place this past week in Las Vegas. Known for launching new products and technologies, many of the products showcased there set the bar for future innovators. The show also signals trends to watch in technology applicable to the design and building industry.
| Jan 12, 2014
The ‘fuzz factor’ in engineering: when continuous improvement is neither
The biggest threat to human life in a building isn’t the potential of natural disasters, but the threat of human error. I believe it’s a reality that increases in probability every time a code or standard change is proposed.
| Jan 12, 2014
5 ways virtual modeling can improve facilities management
Improved space management, streamlined maintenance, and economical retrofits are among the ways building owners and facility managers can benefit from building information modeling.