In support of the city's goal of becoming the greenest city in the nation, Chicago is undertaking several sustainable initiatives with an aggressive focus on recycling and repairing existing materials to conserve and protect natural resources, as well as reintroducing materials back into the marketplace. Working in partnership with the city of Chicago, CDM is an active team member in the evaluation, development, and implementation of sustainable alternatives to support this campaign.
As one component of this overall program, CDM provided design and construction administration services for a household hazardous waste drop-off facility—the first of its kind to use green technology concepts. Located at a former incinerator on Goose Island, the entire building has been refurbished into a facility where residents can drop off household hazardous waste and electronics, which are then carefully assessed, packaged, and shipped offsite for recycling or proper disposal.
Due to an emphasis on reuse and environmental friendliness, the facility's design incorporated a number of unique green features, such as:
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Some of the building's exterior walls were removed entirely, leaving a steel skeleton to support green growth.
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A portion of the facility has been covered by a green roof to counter urban heat and provide natural insulation.
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Inside the facility, the walls have been fashioned from the aluminum siding that once enclosed the warehouse.
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Outside, the grounds incorporate bioswales, shallow trenches containing plants that naturally filter stormwater runoff before it is discharged into the river.