Earth Day has become an influential reminder to be conscious of our practices and an invitation to take part in preserving our planet. You’ve heard it before. The #PlasticFree movement is perhaps the most widely recognized — and there are more ways than ever to play an active role in leading a sustainable lifestyle.
Sustainability, in many ways, starts with our buildings. One of the most impactful ways to make a difference is through the development and design of new construction, especially in larger metros.
Lendlease is one company making a difference in Chicago.
Sustainability has been in its DNA since its founding, and the company is dedicated to mitigating climate change through the way they develop and operate their buildings. Lendlease recently launched its Mission Zero Pledge, and its sustainability efforts have already garnered a net zero carbon rating for its U.S. multifamily portfolio.
It’s about simple changes.
Lendlease is implementing several innovative construction methods in Chicago to meet its sustainability commitments and reduce the carbon footprint of their buildings.
One of these methods is a lifecycle analysis to prioritize lower carbon material selection. The firm is utilizing a proprietary green concrete mix created by McHugh Concrete and Oremus Material to construct The Reed — a 41-story, 440-residence community at Southbank. The mixture reduces carbon emissions by replacing up to 60% of the Portland cement with slag and other materials. Opting for green concrete will reduce the building’s overall embodied carbon emissions by 10–15%.
The firm is not only focused on the sustainability of the buildings themselves, but the surrounding outdoor space, as well.
In Lakeshore East, Lendlease enhanced its two residential buildings, Cirrus and Cascade, with the addition of Cascade Park, which provides one acre of open green space for recreation and serves as a connection to Lake Michigan for neighborhood residents and visitors. Nature is incorporated inside the building as well, with a plant-filled, glass conservatory overlooking the park.
Lendlease is also spearheading projects in office and retail, according to Ted Weldon, Executive General Manager of Development at Lendlease Chicago.
Most of the firm’s retail is placemaking retail, put in the base of multifamily buildings like The Reed, Cirrus and Cascade.
“Our focus is creating a sense of community,” Weldon said. “We look at retail, as well as our outdoor space, as a public amenity to enhance the space and the community that we’re developing in.”
And there are many opportunities in the realm of sustainability still to be explored. Lendlease is considering geothermal, which provides a significant reduction in energy costs, and other ways to minimize energy use in newer buildings.
“We’re focused on constructing our buildings in a more environmentally friendly manner,” Weldon explained, “as well as making sure they operate more energy efficiently than buildings have in the past.”
Some, though, see cost as an obstacle. It is true that upfront costs might be higher, but operating costs will be lower with the utilization of something like geothermal as energy use is reduced.
Simply put, there are savings on the other side, and the benefits largely outweigh the costs.
Because of the long-lasting positive impact of these methods, more people are taking the environmental pledge. Purchasers and renters are attracted to Lendlease’s buildings because of their sustainable mission, and Weldon said people are willing to pay a little bit more to be in a building that is green versus one that is not.
He continued:
“Companies are recognizing that we need to make changes to become more energy efficient. It’s important for everyone, especially us as developers, to be responsible and do our part to mitigate our negative impact on the environment going forward.”
Ted Weldon, Lendlease Chicago
