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Special News Report New Public Works Center Public Works Center earns LEED gold certificationAug. 17, 2009 – The Village of Oak Park's Public Works Center has earned a gold rating from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, the preeminent, internationally recognized green building certification system. Oak Park's Public Works Center, located on South Boulevard at Lombard Avenue, opened in late 2007, and was Illinois' first public works facility to pursue LEED certification. Given the size and types of operations housed in the building, the goal had been silver certification. But when the points were tallied, the building had achieved gold certification. "We were incredibly pleased when the e-mail came with the news that we had taken the gold," said John Wielebnicki, Oak Park's Public Works director who oversaw the project to raise a new green building from the ashes of a fire in 2004 that had destroyed much of the original public works site. "The route to certification is long and tedious. From planning and demolition to construction and documentation, every aspect of the facility had to be considered in terms of its environmental impact and sustainability. To have a public works facility achieve silver is a major accomplishment. To earn gold exceeds all hopes and expectations." Looking east along South Boulevard, the Oak Park Public Works Center contains 155,000 square feet of space meticulously designed to be energy efficient, environmentally friendly and at home in its predominantly residential neighborhood. Everything, including winter road salt, is housed on the three floors of space inside the building, which covers about two acres. Only the top two floors of the building are visible above ground. Low-emission paints, adhesives, coatings, sealants and carpeting were used throughout, and large windows take advantage of natural light. Other features include a green roof and ultra-efficient mechanical heating and cooling equipment, as well as rooftop solar collectors that supply all of the building's hot water. For more information on the certification or the building, call 708.358.5700 or e-mail the Public Works Department ***
Illinois' first green-designed public works facility to welcome publicNov. 11, 2007 – The public is invited to tour Oak Park's new Public Works Center following a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for 10 a.m., Sat., Nov. 17. The facility, located on South Boulevard at Lombard Avenue, will be open until 1 p.m. As Illinois' first green-designed public works facility, the ribbon cutting is expected to attract a wide range of residents, elected officials and sustainability proponents from throughout the region.
Everything, including winter road salt, is housed on the three floors of space inside the building, which covers about two acres. Only the top two floors of the building are visible above ground. Low-emission paints, adhesives, coatings, sealants and carpeting were used throughout, and large windows take advantage of natural light. Other features include a green roof and ultra-efficient mechanical heating and cooling equipment. For more information on the new building, call 358.5700 or e-mail the Public Works Department ***
LEED certification process underway Sept. 25, 2007 – Oak Park's commitment to environmental sustainability now has a tangible touchstone — the new Public Works Center on South Boulevard near Lombard Avenue. The new facility contains 155,000 square feet of space meticulously designed to be energy efficient, environmentally friendly and at home in its predominantly residential neighborhood. What sets the new building apart from other public works facilities is the many environmentally friendly elements purposely incorporated into the design and construction, including a green roof, high efficiency heating, cooling and lighting, and the use of recycled materials throughout. Even the demolition of the old structure considered environmental impacts, with 85 percent of the waste diverted to recycling facilities, rather than landfills. The design and construction approach has the building poised to earn a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) silver rating from the U.S. Green Building Council for high-performance, sustainable buildings. Certification would make the building Illinois' first municipal public works facility to earn the coveted rating. The 80-plus public works staffers who had spent the previous 20 months scattered among four sites — including one on the west side of Chicago — moved into the new building in early September. They brought along the more than 100 vehicles and tons of tools, equipment and materials needed to maintain the Village's critical infrastructure.
The design considered workers, too. Low-emission paints, adhesives, coatings, sealants and carpeting were used throughout, and large windows take For more information on the new building, call 358.5700 or e-mail the Public Works Department ***
Work on schedule for summer move-in March 22, 2007 – Work on the new Public Works Center is still on track for a mid-July move in. Activities in February and March included perimeter masonry wall construction along the west and north, structural steel work, installation of the wood structure in the salt loading area, lower-level plumbing, electrical, mechanical and sprinkler rough in, final pouring of the slab on grade in the lower level, window installation on the south side and miscellaneous masonry. Work continues on LEED documents, steps necessary to officially designate the new facility as the first certified environmentally sustainable municipal public works building in Illinois. Other tasks underway include finalizing furniture and telephone equipment needs, and final build out details. Scroll down for photos of the construction or click here for a video tour of the construction progress
*** Work continues on schedule Dec. 15, 2006 – Construction of the new Public Works Center remains on track for early July completion. In December, crews were backfilling the perimeter of the site, roughing in plumbing and installing underground storage tanks, perimeter masonry walls and structural steel. Other winter tasks include ordering furniture, telephone system and cabling and security equipment. A backup 911 Center also will be incorporated in the second level of the building.
*** Mass Excavation Nears Completion June 6, 2006 - The mass excavation on the site of the new Public Works Center is nearing completion. The volume of trucks accessing the site has declined significantly, with all excavation expected to end by late July. The excavation is nearly 20 feet below grade. The earth retention system is now complete, and the foundation and wall construction is scheduled to continue through August. Installation of the structural steel is scheduled to begin in late September, as work above grade gets underway and the shape of the new facility will begin to emerge.
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Mass Excavation Continues March 30, 2006 – Mass excavation will continue into May, as the early stages of construction of the new Public Works Center along South Boulevard near Lombard Avenue continues. Truck traffic from the site will be heaviest along South Boulevard, Lake Street, Madison Street, Ridgeland Avenue and Harlem Avenue.
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Oak Park breaks ground for state's first environmentally sustainable public works facility December 10, 2005 – Oak Park has broken ground for the first certified environmentally sustainable municipal public works building in Illinois. The new facility will be located on the site of the former Public Works facility on South Boulevard, just west of Austin Boulevard. "This is the first step in helping to foster Oak Park as more environmentally sustainable," Village President David Pope told the 40 or so citizens, public officials and municipal staff who braved the early morning cold to attend the official groundbreaking ceremony. Describing the new facility as “cutting edge” and “revolutionary," Pope thanked those involved with the project launch, including State Senator Don Harmon, Seven Generations Ahead Executive Director Gary Cuneen and Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation Program Officer Bob Romo who were on hand for the ceremony. As the first certified environmentally sustainable municipal public works building in Illinois , the new 150,000-square-foot facility likely will become a model for future projects in Oak Park and the region, Pope said. The new facility will incorporate numerous environmentally friendly elements, which earned the Village a $100,000 grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation. Among the green features planned for the new building are a living roof, water efficient landscaping, low-emitting carpets, paints and adhesives, and 5 percent recycled construction materials. In addition to the building's environmental benefits, many of its features also will allow the Oak Park Public Works Department to improve operations while reducing the impact on the neighborhood. The facility, which is the region’s first municipal Public Works building to seek a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) silver rating from the U.S. Green Building Council for high-performance, sustainable buildings, is expected to be completed in Spring 2007. |
Contact Number: E-mail: Address: Public Works News Take a video tour of the construction progress Review the January 27, 2005 Public Works facilities presentation (4 mb PDF) |
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The new facility contains 155,000 square feet of space meticulously designed to be energy efficient, environmentally friendly and at home in its predominantly residential neighborhood. The design and construction approach has the building poised to earn a 
Everything, including winter road salt, is housed on the three floors of space inside the building, which covers about two acres. Streetscaping with water efficient plantings along the north façade, and the removal of all overhead utility wires, visually minimize the building's size and footprint along the street. With only the top two floors visible above ground, the design actually fits within existing zoning height regulations.
advantage of natural light. Efficient mechanical equipment optimize air supplied to work areas and, in the winter, will recover heat from the building's exhaust air. The community is expected to get its first look at the new green building at an open house in late October or early November. Specific information will be posted at www.oak-park.us, broadcast on VOP-TV6, the Village's cable television station, and distributed to local newspapers.
