Tuesday | Wednesday | Schedule at a Glance

Full course descriptions available on the Registration page.

Note: Attendees will receive AIA/CES credit for BUILDINGChicago and Greening the Heartland sessions. AIA members will receive credit on their AIA transcript and by certificate for non-AIA members.

Please click on Session Title for Presentation Slides.

Monday, September 29 

8:30 am – 10:00 am

M102  Creating High-Performing Energy Systems with BIM/IPD

Ryan Blackman, Mechanical Inc.; Maxwell Nichols, Imaginit Technologies; Anna Morton,dbHMS; Kevin Rodgers, The University of Chicago
The Building Team for the new Residence Hall and Dining Commons at the University of Chicago is using advanced contractual and collaborative delivery methods to apply a custom, integrated, technologically advanced approach to the design, construction, and verification of the project. Technology goals include achieving an FM (Facilities Management) level BIM model (LOD 600), streamlining communication, verifying the design intent, and using a single shared BIM model to encourage team members to think beyond conventional delivery methods. The project’s contractual EUI (energy use index) target has further motivated the team to take a vested interest in the building's design, construction, and operation. 

M103  How to Reduce Operating Costs and Resource Use in Existing Buildings
April Brown, Colorado State University
The Institute for the Built Environment was asked by the General Services Administration to summarize the current research on effective strategies to reduce the carbon footprint, resource utilization, and costs of operating existing GSA buildings. The researchers have identified low- to no-cost opportunities in five high-impact areas: plug and process load management, water efficiency, daylighting, behavior engagement, and operational efficiency. The IBE’s findings clarify the role of facility improvements, occupant behavior, operations staff, and organizational leadership. The research also suggests ways to prioritize high-impact strategies based on return on investment data.

M104  Off-Site Construction and Prefabrication for Sustainable Buildings
Jeffrey Sommers, Square Root Architecture + Design; John Guequierre; Hi-Tech Housing, Inc.
The session will highlight the use of off-site construction methods for LEED Platinum single-family projects in Chicago, New Orleans, and Toronto; a passive design dormitory and hotel project in West Virginia; and energy-efficient assisted living and skilled nursing facilities in the Midwest. The presentation will focus on the practical aspects of designing, bidding, and managing the construction of prefab buildings. The financial, time, safety, and sustainability advantages of off-site/prefab construction and the best ways to accommodate off-site/prefab during the design phase will be revealed. Real-life stories of working with local permit authorities will be narrated. Plus: how Energy-Star, LEED, Green Communities, and other inspections and certifications are managed at the prefabrication factory.

Sponsored Session -- Air, Water & Moisture Management in Light Commercial Building Envelopes
Lori Oberman, Tim Farrell;  Huber Engineered Woods LLC

M201  Extracting the Non-energy Benefits of Energy Efficiency in Multifamily Affordable Housing
Michael  Burton, Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation; Anne McKibbin, Jason Ransby-Sporn, Deborah Philbrick, Elevate Energy
Multifamily housing retrofits could provide $16 billion in energy savings in the U.S. This presentation will make the case for the non-energy benefits associated with such upgrades. A survey of tenants at three Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation revealed a 17% reduction in maintenance costs one year after the retrofit. Two-thirds of tenants felt that their unit stayed cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. The buildings saw a 19% reduction in gas usage post-retrofit and a 27% decrease in rental vacancy loss as a percentage of potential receipts. Non-energy benefits metrics can be help architects, engineers, and builders advocate for multifamily retrofits when clients aren't motivated by energy savings alone. 

M202  Cost-effective Strategies for Improving Energy Efficiencies
Kristine Chalifoux, SEDAC
This session will review cost-effective strategies for improving energy efficiency in buildings, the grants and incentives currently available in Illinois for energy-reduction projects, and the payback period of various strategies. A series of case studies of owners who have implemented energy strategies, the incentives they received, and the payback of the projects will be presented.

M203  Grave to Cradle: Where Remediation Meets Sustainable Design
Stephen Colantino, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency; LeeAnn Tomas-Foster, Public Building Commission of Chicago; Deeta Bernstein, Cotter Consulting
This session will explore case studies of the Public Building Commission of Chicago’s approach to environmental excellence, which has been recognized with the prestigious NAEP Environmental Excellence Award. The Whitney Young Library Green Remediation leveraged federal and state funds to reduce upfront costs and used in-situ chemical oxidation. The Back of the Yards High School (LEED Silver) will document acquisition considerations (with the Illinois EPA) and remediation strategies, notably in-situ hazardous waste treatment in conjunction with the reuse on site of native clean clay to deter materials from landfill. The site remediation strategies minimized carbon footprint, utilized IEPA Green Remediation Best Management Practices, and facilitated future stormwater management. 

M204  Making Old and Historic New – and Green – in Higher Education
Helen Kessler, HJKessler Associates; Jim Noseworthy, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary; Steve Sovak, WMA Consulting Engineers; Anne McGuire, McGuire Igleski & Associates
Loder Hall, located at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary on the campus of Northwestern University, was designed by Holabird & Root and built in 1959. The 35,000-sf residence hall was completely renovated to provide single rooms with private baths, new mixed-used spaces (classrooms, offices, kitchen & dining, bookstore and student center), upgraded interior finishes and furnishings, a new geo-exchange mechanical system, and ADA-compliant elevators. Exterior envelope work––new insulation, windows, and a vegetative roof––transformed a relatively drab residence hall into one of the most desirable locations on campus. The original LEED Silver goal was far surpassed (Gold) without affecting the budget. Post-occupancy information will be provided.

M100  Keynote: Sustainable Design Lessons Learned from Tall Building Design – Gordon Gill, FAIA, OAA, AIBC – Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture
Presented by the Green Building Initiative

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

M301  AIA 2030 Commitment: Creating a Culture of Change
Zurich Esposito, AIA Chicago; Arathi Gowda, Skidmore, Ownings & Merrill; Terran Wilson, Landon Bone Baker Architects; Marya Graff; Cannon Design
After four reporting cycles, and 270 firms signed on, the AIA 2030 Commitment is here to stay. This panel will relay the experiences of various types and sizes of firms, explore the immediate challenges to meeting the 2030 targets and potential solutions for overcoming those obstacles, and discuss whether the Commitment is making a difference in actual energy performance and carbon footprints of buildings.
The panel will articulate how the AIA 2030 Commitment can enhance project process and identify possibilities for engagement within the local AEC community. 

M302 LEED v4: The View from the MEP Seats
Scott Bowman, KJWW Engineering Consultants
While there has been spirited discussion about changes to the Materials and Resources credits in LEED v4, changes to other less well-known credits could have even more impact on projects. This program will focus on how v4 will affect the mechanical, electrical, and commissioning aspects of LEED projects. Attendees will be able to identify the major changes in LEED v4 prerequisites and credits in these areas and learn techniques and opportunities to increase the success and certification levels of LEED v4 projects––in particular, how to prepare client expectations for v4. The presentation will be informed by experience from the field, now that the LEED v4 reference guide has been published.

M303  Energy-Efficient Mechanical and Electrical Systems Upgrades and Retrofits That Maximize ROI
Dennis Fiddick and Scott Schnurr, DRF Trusted Property Solutions; Sandra Henry, ComEd; Dan Bulow, Dominican University; Jeff Crittenden, CLEAResult; Timothy McKenna, Enerlight
Dominican University, River Forest, Ill., has completed a number of electrical, natural gas, and water conservation projects that will be discussed: the installation of high-efficiency point-of-use equipment to replace a steam boiler, saving 132,000 therms/year; a rainwater capture system to irrigate soccer fields and provide makeup water for cooling towers, saving up to 6 million gallons of potable water annually; and lighting projects and a high-efficiency chiller that have provided electrical savings. The panel will provide guidelines for capturing maximum rebates and advise attendees on how to combine energy cost savings, rebates, and grant opportunities to maximize short-term ROI. 

M304  How Harper Court Is Revitalizing Chicago’s Hyde Park Neighborhood
Désireé DiLucente, James Hennessy, The University of Chicago; Christopher Dillion, Vermilion Development; Jessica Figenholtz, Cannon Design
A partnership among the University of Chicago, the City of Chicago, and Hyde Park officials sparked the implementation of the 53rd Street Corridor development project, which has allowed the university to expand beyond its campus boundaries and create a vibrant sense of community. The 53rd Street Corridor development has received national recognition for stimulating Hyde Park's economic, social, and cultural identity. It serves as a model of sustainable urban development and is the first project of its kind to use four different rating systems. To Hyde Park residents, Harper Court is more than just real estate: it is the culmination of decades of work to inject new life into what was once a thriving downtown area.

M401  What Owners of Green Building Projects Want from Their Contractors
Paul Todd Merrill, Clayco; John Villa, Jr., Villa Lighting
This presentation will focus on real-world experiences of a national design-build general contractor that has worked on over 60 LEED certified projects. It will review the company’s efforts to incorporate sustainable practices into clients’ projects and, in some cases, to convince clients to pursue formal certification. Data on sustainability from regional organizations currently constructing or contemplating construction projects will be shared. Ultimately, it is the client’s decision to elect to pursue formal certification based on many factors, including budget and scope limitations, biases, lack of team buy-in, limited experience or education on sustainability requirements, etc. The presentation will offer advice and recommendations for attendees to use with their clients and projects.

M402  5 Ways Health Data Can Add Value to Green Design
Adele Houghton, Biositu; Chris Pyke, U.S. Green Building Council
From its inception, the U.S. Green Building Council has promoted green building's potential to enhance occupant health and wellness. In practice, green building projects have limited their scope to reducing human exposure to toxic chemicals. This session will introduce health data analysis as a straightforward, quantifiable process for prioritizing the green building design strategies that are most likely to lead to positive health outcomes on a specific site. The session will debunk five common myths about site-specific health data and design. It will demonstrate, using a case study from New Orleans, how a site's baseline health profile can be leveraged to develop data-driven justifications for green building design decisions. Attendees will learn how to develop a baseline health profile and develop design recommendations based on evidence provided in the session materials. 

M403  Materials Credits for New Construction in LEED v4
Helen Kessler, HJKessler Associates
For those who are just beginning to dive into LEED v4, this session will provide valuable insight into the Materials & Resources credits, especially with regard to new criteria based on life cycle analysis (LCA), environmental product declarations (EPD), health product declarations (HPD), and Cradle to Cradle. The presenter will identify changes to LEED Materials credits, discuss third-party certification systems for materials, and explain how an integrative approach to materials can lead to high-performance buildings.

M404  Sustainability Lessons from Energy Star’s Multifamily High Rise Rating System
Gayathri Vijayakumar, Steven Winter Associates; Corbett Lunsford, Green Dream Group; Curt Pascoe, Barry Sullivan, Ryan Companies US; Ted Leopkey, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Learn how the Energy Star Multifamily High Rise (MFHR) certification program leads to better building performance, increases access to funding, satisfies the prerequisites of the LEED for Homes Multifamily Mid-Rise rating system, and helps developers and energy professionals differentiate and market their projects. The team that designed, built, and verified the first Energy Star Multifamily High Rise building in Illinois will discuss the lessons learned at Thomas Place in Orland Park, an 80-unit affordable, green community. Participants will be able to identify the steps required to take a project from concept to Energy Star MFHR certification.

Sponsored Session -- Operable Glass Walls for Flexible Interior Space Division
Chuck Braun, NanaWall

5:00 pm

M200  Keynote & Reception – Chris Pyke, PhD, U.S. Green Building Council