Jewel-Osco Seeks LEED® Certification for First Green Store

Thursday, March 5th, 2009

370 N. Desplaines St.

Location
370 N. Desplaines St., Chicago, IL 60661 map

Developer & Architect
Peter Theodore, Camburas & Theodore Ltd.

By Selma Haveric

Jewel-Osco is seeking LEED® certification for its first green grocery and drug store. The store opened on September 26, 2008 at 370 N. Desplaines St. in Chicago’s Fulton Market District. The store has been in development for 5 years due to the complexity of the design and pre-qualification requirements for LEED® Certification.

The completed building features energy-efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, water-saving features, energy-efficient lighting, and even an on-site chef who cooks with locally-grown and produced foods. In order to meet United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED® standards, Jewel-Osco adhered to strict policies during design and construction. Ninety-eight percent of construction debris was recycled, and all building materials were transported to the site from within a 500-mile radius in order to reduce emissions from shipping.

This Jewel-Osco location offers shoppers a healthy experience inside the store in hopes that they also take the desire for a healthier lifestyle home with them. This location offers a variety of Wild Harvest organic products and locally-produced food choices. There is even an in-store dietician ready to offer healthy-eating advice to customers. The building received TIF financing, and is a part of the K-Station development project.

One of the more unusual green features is the Verisco roofing system, which boasts an impressive list of environmental and community benefits. The reflective roof membrane provides significant insulation for the building resulting in reduced energy consumption for heating and cooling. The building’s LiveRoof system helps to reduce storm water runoff, and the urban heat island effect created by buildings. The opening of the store marks a significant step for the Jewel-Osco, and indicates a commitment to the use of eco-friendly construction techniques and materials. Hopefully Jewel will use this new store as a model for new stores and will seek to incorporate some of the technology as the company retrofits older stores.

Tags: energy efficient lighting, green roof, LEED® certified grocery store, on-site chef, reflective roof, regionally sourced materials