GRAYSLAKE, ILL. — The Prairie Med building, a 39,000-square-foot medical office and research facility in suburban Chicago, has become the first building in Illinois awarded two green certifications, according to Leopardo Cos. The facility earned a LEED Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council, and a Three Green Globe sustainable certification from the Green Building Initiative. Multiple biofilter strategies were employed at the building to remove pollution from surface runoff water, including micropools, bioswales and rain and community gardens. Located in Grayslake, the two-story building uses 21 percent less water after installing low flow fixtures and existing landscaping that does not require an irrigation system. While being built, more than 90 percent of the wood used for the project was harvested from sustainable forests. The building is the 16th building in the United States to earn dual green certifications, according to Leopardo. SJS Prairie Med LLC developed the project with architect Partners in Design Architects and contractor Leopardo Cos.
