Wilmette's new public works facilities has 12,900 square feet of office space and three new vehicle wash bays that recycle water. Photo: Legat Architects Inc.
Wilmette, Ill., may have joined the ranks of Chicago-area communities with new public works facilities, but it’s the first village nationwide to achieve perfect or near-perfect scores in the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) green-building program.
The facility scored particularly high for water efficiency, indoor air quality, and innovative design with features that include:
Using recycled and regional materials such as wood from ash trees
A metal wall system that reduces heating and cooling loads
A reflective white roof
A north-facing glass curtain wall system that lights the interior while minimizing heat and UV rays
Parking lot bioswales that filter oils and sediments before rainwater flows into sewers.
“We’re very grateful to the community and administration forsupporting our efforts to set a standard with this project,” says Public Works Director Donna Jakubowski. “This represents the whole community’s intensified commitment to energy-efficient and environmentally-sensitive facilities.”
Architect of record: Legat Architects Inc., Chicago Design architect: A. Epstein & Sons International, Chicago
As editor in chief, Stephanie Johnston oversees Public Works’ print magazine, website, e-newsletters, and digital initiatives. Before joining the staff 10 years ago, she worked on publications owned by the American Bar Association, Associated Equipment Distributors, and agriculture-industry publisher Century Communications. In 2015, she became editor of Concrete Construction sister publication Concrete Surfaces. She has a master’s degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and lives in a Chicago suburb. E-mail sjohnston@hanleywood.com or follow her on Twitter at @StephanieatPW.
