Height: N/A
Floor count: 50
Location: South Wacker and West Jackson
Neighborhood: Loop
Construction end: N/A
Architect: Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill
Developer: 233 S. Wacker Drive, LLC

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/939/searstowerbuildingandho.jpg
http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/5876/11444418.jpg
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/692/66805213.jpg
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/707/40875294.jpg
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/2083/79707791.jpg
http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/235/25148033.jpg
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/2829/93347850.jpg
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/7882/97624150.jpg
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/7313/80623868.jpg

http://news.prnewswire.com/ViewContent.aspx?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/06-24-2009/0005049861&EDATE=

Sears Tower Unveils Sustainable Plan to Transform Tallest Building in Western Hemisphere
Sears Tower today announced plans for the most significant sustainable modernization projects of an existing building ever undertaken. The project will result in unparalleled energy savings and reduced CO2 emissions to the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, reducing the base building electricity use by up to 80 percent, which includes a combination of energy savings and co-generation. The energy savings equal 68 million kilowatt hours annually or 150,000 barrels of oil every year. The sustainability plans also drive economic development in the West Loop, creating more than 3,600 jobs, and are part of a broader initiative to transform the global icon.

"Sears Tower, an iconic structure that defines the city's skyline, will undergo a groundbreaking transformation that creates economic growth with positive impact on our environment, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations," said John Huston of American Landmark Properties, representing the partnership that owns Sears Tower. "As the stewards of this icon, we take seriously our responsibility to make it relevant and successful, and the changes made and benefits realized through the bold sustainable initiatives at the tower serve as an example that a sustainable future is more than a concept, it is within our reach."

The building, which already meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria, will undertake sustainability initiatives above and beyond those used by the United Stated Green Building Council to rate a green building. Modernization strategies, designed by Chicago-based Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG), include:

Efficiency improvements to the building's exterior envelope and windows. The tower has 16,000 single-pane windows. Sustainability plans for the building call for a window replacement and glazing program. Strategies to achieve a thermal break of the curtain wall are also being investigated. These upgrades would achieve savings of up to 50 percent of heating energy.
Mechanical systems upgrades in the form of new gas boilers that utilize fuel cell technologies, which generate electricity, heating and cooling at as much as 90 percent efficiency. Mechanical upgrades also will include new high-efficiency chillers and upgrades to the distribution system.
The tower's 104 high speed elevators and 15 escalators that will be modernized with the latest technology to achieve 40 percent reduction in their energy consumption.
Water savings that will be realized with conservation initiatives through upgrades to restroom fixtures, condensation recovery systems and water efficient landscaping, which will reduce water usage by 40 percent and save 24 million gallons of water each year.
Lighting that will be upgraded through advanced lighting control systems and daylight harvesting, an advanced lighting control system that automatically dims lights in tenant spaces based on the amount of sunlight entering through the windows. Combined, these upgrades will save up to 40 percent of lighting energy consumption.
Renewable energy like wind and solar, and technologies like green roofs that will be tested. Wind turbines will be tested to take advantage of the tower's height and unique set-back roof areas. Solar hot-water panels will help heat water for the building. Green roofs that can sustain high- altitude conditions, and that will be among the tallest in the world, will be tested to reduce storm water runoff, improve insulation, help mitigate the urban heat island effect, and provide pleasant vistas for tenants overlooking the areas.


"Buildings are the world's largest contributor to carbon emissions, and therefore the biggest opportunity to address climate change is to retrofit existing structures," said Adrian Smith, partner, AS+GG. "Our goal in the Sears Tower greening project is to create a holistic approach that integrates high-performance building technologies and design strategies for maximum energy efficiency. In the process, we hope to set a benchmark for how high-rise buildings throughout the world can limit their impact on the environment."

"Sustainable architecture in new buildings is important but not enough to address the climate and energy crises facing our world," added Gordon Gill, partner, AS+GG. "We have to apply what we've learned to our existing stock of commercial buildings--especially iconic structures such as Sears Tower, which we hope will inspire similar initiatives around the globe. These will serve as great examples for building owners and managers and can reposition existing building stock to be as competitive as most new buildings or even better."

As an important part of the modernization program, Sears Tower's plazas and retail spaces will also undergo changes. A new park at Wacker Drive and Adams Street will be an inviting public space with landscaping and seating. The Adams Street granite wall will be replaced with an interactive digital display, glass storefronts, and trees, which will be planted to form a landscaped terrace that will add a natural filter for carbon dioxide.

In addition to the most significant energy efficiency renovations ever undertaken on an existing building, another aspect of the transformation is a proposed new, privately funded hotel for the site at Jackson Boulevard and Wacker Drive. The hotel will be designed for a LEED Gold rating, and will become one of the most sustainable hotels in Chicago. The hotel will fill a critical need in the West Loop and provide a much welcomed facility for existing building tenants.

The reduction in energy use and CO2 emissions realized through the sustainability and modernization plans for the tower also brings economic opportunities by creating more than 3,600 jobs. Extending its impact beyond the site itself, the project will feature a dynamic Sustainable Technology Learning Center that is designed to help building visitors and Chicago tourists learn about ways to save energy and money, as Sears Tower serves as a laboratory that demonstrates to the office building industry how a sustainability program can be accomplished.

"The plans for the building bring new activity to the West Loop, and make it even more attractive to current and future tenants who are looking for more sustainable office solutions," said Robert A. Wislow, chairman and CEO of U.S. Equities Asset Management, the management and leasing agent for the tower. "Today, tenants want the buildings they inhabit to be environmentally friendly and more healthy for their employees. They demand sustainable workplaces. They are doing this because it is the right thing to do, has a positive effect on the environment, helps make their employees more productive and is becoming more and more important to their employees."

The cost of construction for the Sears Tower project is estimated at $350 million. A number of private and public financing and funding options are being explored. The majority of the energy savings will be realized in approximately five years and work will start immediately.

"The Illinois Environmental Council supports private and public investments in projects that spur job creation and economic development here in Illinois, while helping to meet the challenge of global climate change," said Charles Jackson, IEC executive director. "The Sears Tower energy sustainability and environmental education project presents a tremendous opportunity for inspiring building owners and the public to aspire to the highest standards of energy-efficiency."

Sears Tower's commitment to energy efficiency is well established. Since 1989, the building has reduced its annual electricity consumption by 34 percent. Since 1984, its energy efficiency improvements have resulted in a reduction of 51 million pounds of carbon emissions annually, or the equivalent of removing more than 4,400 cars from the road each year.

For more information on the sustainability plans for the building, please visit: www.searstower.com/icon.

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/7834/56590915.jpg
http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/5952/32715637.jpg
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/2844/82516501.jpg
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/1500/59205937.jpg
http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/2104/18135113.jpg
http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/3117/91141317.jpg
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/9614/91812095.jpg
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/5051/15189992.jpg
http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/7052/79912247.jpg

where is the vid at ? i can't seem to find it :(

^Go to the link at the bottom of the 2nd post.

I am so ridiculously excited for everything about this project, especially the snazzy adjoining hotel. The idea of wind turbines on the setbacks makes me giddy in a hippy/environmentalist sort of way!

I'd say this building is around 600ft+. because the sears tower's first setback is 657ft, which the tower is near

Don't like the hotel idea. Renovation is cool, just believe the hotel should left out and not block the tower at such a close location.

Willis? ;)

so will the tower have that greenish hue to it when its done?

Don't like the hotel idea. Renovation is cool, just believe the hotel should left out and not block the tower at such a close location.


With all the empty office rental space, why not convert some of it to a hotel?

like the hotel as a separate entity. putting it next to Sears is a total juxtaposition. in such close quarters, the two buildings just dont work together.

yeah, I'm not a fan of the hotel being so close to the building either. Just think about all the wind effect bottle necking between those two buildings. And also, the view of your hotel will be someone's messy desk at work.

Adrian Smith delivers yet another stunner. He's very much at the forefront of the sustainable design movement. The design is absolutely beautiful, especially the base, which resembles whirls of water flowing from the bottom of the tower. I just wish it were situated in a more prominent location.

anyone else excited that there is actually a new development thread? wooo hoooo

My excitement was almost immediately dampened by the Spire news/rumors. And while I like this proposal a lot, I'm still thinking the new hotel is REALLY shoe-horned into the site. Reminds me of how Hotel Palomar squishes up next to the AMA Building. Would have liked to see them put the hotel one block east, where the Sears parking garage is, but imagine they don't own that site.

My excitement was almost immediately dampened by the Spire news/rumors. And while I like this proposal a lot, I'm still thinking the new hotel is REALLY shoe-horned into the site. Reminds me of how Hotel Palomar squishes up next to the AMA Building. Would have liked to see them put the hotel one block east, where the Sears parking garage is, but imagine they don't own that site.

what spire news?


I dont mind the buildings being shoe horned next to each other..

It's not spire news, but spire speculation that the project might get shelved depending on what the finance authorities overseeing it in Ireland think of it (Ireland has set up a "bad bank" to house "bad loans").

here's some more info on the project, scroll down and there's a floor plan showing how the tower is situated at the base
http://*************************/chicago/sears_tower_modernization.htm

"The majority of the energy savings will be realized in approximately five years and work will start immediately."

Has this really been the case?

Edit: I guess if it's still proposed - that was a dumb question.

^^ it might not be a dumb question. where did you get that info from ? is it a reliable source ?

I like the tower, but i'm not really a fan of its location. I feel like it's impeding on the greatness that is the Sears/Willis tower.

Lol, I agree on the downside of the location. The hotel will be a hidden gem if built in my opinion. Although compared to Willis at 50 stories I would hardly consider it "impeding" :)

What bothers me about this proposal is that the plaza next to Sears was "payment" to the city for Sears being so massive -- the site is zoned for 16 FAR, and since Sears included such a giant plaza it got zoning bonuses to go to something like 30 FAR. (NYC has a strict limit of 18 FAR even with bonuses.) And now they want to take away the legally encumbered plaza to add even more FAR. I mean, you already have a 110-story building -- do you really need more floor area on one block, especially since there are surface parking lots just 200' away? If the city wants to, it can seize those parking lots from their speculator owners now that we have the LaSalle Central TIF.

The Sears plaza is almost useless, so it's not a giant loss -- but just on principle, a deal is a deal, and the city should be compensated. The tower's owners need to "pay" the city for use of that land, since it's not theirs to build upon.

Does that hotel have to ebe built in order to make 233 South Wacker a LEED-certified building? I'd much rather have a major redesigning of the plazainstead of a hotel. I do not want that hotel built at all.

What bothers me about this proposal is that the plaza next to Sears was "payment" to the city for Sears being so massive -- the site is zoned for 16 FAR, and since Sears included such a giant plaza it got zoning bonuses to go to something like 30 FAR. (NYC has a strict limit of 18 FAR even with bonuses.) And now they want to take away the legally encumbered plaza to add even more FAR. I mean, you already have a 110-story building -- do you really need more floor area on one block, especially since there are surface parking lots just 200' away? If the city wants to, it can seize those parking lots from their speculator owners now that we have the LaSalle Central TIF.

The Sears plaza is almost useless, so it's not a giant loss -- but just on principle, a deal is a deal, and the city should be compensated. The tower's owners need to "pay" the city for use of that land, since it's not theirs to build upon.

Wait wait wait... NY's FAR is not capped at 18. The original WTC was like 27, and Libeskind's plan is like 30, if you can believe that. You can't tell me that other buildings, such as 7WTC, aren't blowing the roof off a FAR of 30 without some shenanigans going on with lot measurements. That tower absolutely fills its lot and is just shy of 2M SQFT if memory serves. Can you explain?

Wait wait wait... NY's FAR is not capped at 18. The original WTC was like 27

The WTC complex as a whole was approved as a PUD with an FAR of 14. Remember that the site also included a lot of open plazas.

I've read in several places, though, that the final tabulation was on the order of a FAR of 27. I'm not sure if they used different property lines to calculate it. I'm sure I'm underestimating the amount of open space that was part of the project, but, even still - two 100-story towers of substantial girth is nothing to scoff at.

^^ it might not be a dumb question. where did you get that info from ? is it a reliable source ?

It's from the first post. The 4th paragraph from the bottom.


I don't really care about when the new building starts, I was more concerned about when the renovation would begin.