This a project designed by an architect as his own family residence. It is another example of a budget-conscious but reasonably responsible design. Most of the green investment goes into energy-saving, but easily achievable features - rigid exterior insulation with spray foam insulation between studs, high-efficiency mechanical systems, and an Energy Star roof.

This is a small developer’s first foray into green multifamily housing, and is a great example of a newer developer that recognizes how green building differentiates their product. These three green buildings make this little corner in Humboldt Park one of the greenest in Chicago! This project is seeking Chicago Green Homes certification. This isn’t a demonstration project with exotic features, but does include nearly all of the increasingly-standard features on green buildings, such as high-efficiency mechanical equipment, low-VOC and recycled content materials. It also includes the all-important layer of continuous insulation (to eliminate thermal bridging), which it is often so difficult to convince developers of this housing type to do.

Location
1600 N. Talman, Chicago, IL 60612 Map

Owner
Hispanic Housing Development Corporation
Architect
Weese Langley Weese
1600 N. Talman is the second phase of a two-building development with a renovation and new construction component. We reported on the first phase, rehab of an immediately adjacent existing building, back in April. While the first phase was family housing, this building consists of [...]

Location
4227 S. St. Lawrence, Chicago, IL 60653 Map
Owner
Om Development, LLC

Architect
Echo Studio

4227 S. St. Lawrence  is a just-completed home from a new entry on Chicago’s green development scene, Om Development. The project is a gut rehab of an 1890’s Bronzeville multifamily back into a single-family home. There’s not a lot of green bling here, just solid energy-efficiency [...]

Location
3905 N. Janssen, Chicago, IL 60613 Map
There’s no architect on this project, as it’s an un-project: Chicago’s first residential deconstruction, currently underway on a 2-story home at 3905 N. Janssen. Deconstruction is the process of carefully dismantling a building in order to salvage components for reuse, as opposed to demolition, where buildings are smashed with [...]

Location
1310-1316 S. Spaulding, Chicago, IL 60623 Map
1424-1428 S. Trumbull, Chicago, IL 60623  Map
Owner
Spaulding Trumbull, LP
Architect
Harley Ellis Devereaux
Spaulding and Trumbull family apartments are a pair of former CHA buildings being renovated to reduce the number of units (to 14 for Spaulding, 11 for Trumbull), modernize the buildings, and dress up their appearance. When complete, they will be [...]