Quarles & Brady's new Chicago law office takes advantage of design elements to achieve reductions in water and energy use.
However, it is too early yet to know how much electricity and water the new offices will save, compared to the old offices, said Court Landon, Quarles & Brady’s Chicago Office Administrator.
The 75,000 square feet of office space, which Quarles & Brady moved into in March of 2009, features daylight responsive controls in all occupied spaces to reduce energy use, according to a press release.
Floor-to-ceiling exterior and interior windows help keep the office well lit while minimizing electricity consumption. This design allows for maximum daylight, which permeates to the interior of the office, and reduces use of artificial lighting.
Energy Star-rated equipment and appliances are used to further reduce electricity costs.
The firm installed 90-second, high-temperature dishwashers and eliminated all disposable plates, cups and cutlery.
During construction, 25 percent of building materials were manufactured using recycled materials and 95 percent of construction waste was diverted from landfills.
The building site has a vegetated roof on 50.5 percent of the roof area