| Company Profile > |  |
Services | |
Press Releases | |
|
| Projects | |
People | |
Media | |
|
| Contact | |
History | |
Awards | |
|
|
|
Press > | |
Design Profile | |
2009
2008
|
Distribution Facility for Testa Produce, Inc. Latest in Wind Power, Vegetated Roofing, Solar, Among “Green” Features
Chicago, March 1, 2010 – Epstein has designed a new, 91,200-square-foot corporate headquarters/produce distribution facility in the old Union Stockyards complex for Testa Produce, Inc. This facility, which broke ground on February 12th, is anticipating becoming the first LEED Platinum industrial facility of its kind in the United States.
Sustainable features in the new building include a 167-foot-tall wind turbine that will provide power to the facility, and a variety of landscape, solar and water conservation features.
“Peter Testa, and his company Testa Produce, had a vision to create a facility that was the ultimate in sustainability, and we have created a building that delivers on that vision,” said Rael Slutsky, AIA, who headed Epstein’s design team.
Among the many sustainable features of the building, in addition to the wind turbine, is a vegetated green roof will cover approximately 50 percent of the net roof area. The green roof will help prevent storm water runoff and will be also be formed and sculpted to give the building a unique green identity. The green roof slopes down and spills over the edge to become a green wall at the front of the building.
The facility is also being built on an old brown field site at 4555 S. Racine Avenue that was home to a number of meat processing facilities that were demolished some years ago.
“Not only does the building feature the latest in sustainable technology available today, but the design is flexible in allowing for future sustainable technology as it is developed,” according to Mr. Slutsky. For instance, there are roof areas designed for photovoltaic panels to be installed in the future when the efficiency of those panels improves further.
Other features to minimize and recycle storm water runoff from the roof include a cistern to capture and reuse rainwater and permeable pavers that drain into “bio-swales,” or live wetlands, that will also capture and cleanse storm water runoff.
The site is actually designed to require no significant irrigation beyond plant establishment and watering will only be necessary in times of severe drought. This sustainable feature is accomplished through a landscape design which utilizes native plant species that do not require continual irrigation.
Employees will have a green experience both outside and inside the building. Workers will actually enter the facility by walking through one of several vegetated green walls.
Solar energy will be utilized in two distinct ways. Solar collectors will provide heated water that will provide the domestic hot water for all of the showers, sinks and sanitation. In addition, not only will skylights be used to provide natural ambient lighting, which has been shown to improve worker morale and productivity, but a solar tracking system will adjust the ambient lighting based on the sun’s position in the sky at a given time.
In addition to these sustainable design features the Testa facility will also feature:• All facility trucks are being converted to bio-diesel fuel, which contributes to reduced air-pollutants. • Incentives are in place for reducing pollution from reduction of automobile use through designated preferred parking for low-emitting/fuel-efficient vehicle users. • Light pollution is minimized on the surrounding exterior of building. • Once completed the facility will be opened to the general public for guided tours and will be incorporating signage identifying sustainable features.
The 13-acre project includes 15,200 square feet of Class A office space and a 76,000 square foot distribution center containing a 7,600 square foot 0° freezer, 24,700 square feet of cooler space, approximately 5,000 square feet of dry warehouse and approximately 38 truck dock positions on two refrigerated cross docks.
About EpsteinEpstein was formed in 1921 and provides architecture, interior design, engineering, and construction services worldwide. Headquartered in Chicago, the firm maintains offices in New York, New York; Warsaw, Poland; and Bucharest, Romania. Epstein consistently ranks among the leaders by well-known industry media including Engineering News Record, Building Design + Construction and Midwest Construction. The firm is well-known for its commercial, industrial, high-rise office, residential, municipal, and transportation projects. Epstein is also a leader in sustainable design, developing "green” solutions and technologies across all building types. More information is available at www.epsteinglobal.com.
|
|
