Explore: Specialty Considerations
Green Structures
HP recognizes that all design team members contribute to sustainability. As structural engineers, HP focuses on efficient proportioning of the structure and utilization of appropriate material types to meet demands of design. At the same time, HP understands that our portion of work is one part in an intricate interdisciplinary puzzle. As a result, a number of our engineers have become accredited as LEED APs to help us understand the key issues of design affecting others on the team. HP proactively participates in developing designs which challenge standard assumptions to create optimally sustainable solutions for each project.
• At Loyola Information Commons (LEED Silver), HP worked closely with the team – including architect Solomon Cordwell Buenz and environmental consultant Transsolar – to integrate the structure in the building’s comprehensive energy saving vision. PEX tubing cast within the pre-cast barrel vaults helps to radiantly heat and cool the building, which is using 60% less energy than ASHRAE standards.
• For the Chicago City Hall Green Roof - one of the first to be installed on a municipal building in the US - HP assessed the existing, historic structure and configured heavy loads to accommodate with minimal reinforcement of the existing structure. The City Hall green roof serves as one of the premier symbols of Chicago’s ongoing commitment to green initiatives.
• And HP helps teams with the technical, structural aspects of integrating new green technologies in a variety of other ways at well. For example, introducing wind turbines on both new and existing structures requires not only assessment of structural and connection capacity, but also critical consideration of vibration and wind loading effects. HP has collaborated with teams to solve these structural issues on wind turbines ranging from the small turbines added on a parking garage in Chicago’s River North to the inclusion of large-scale turbines originally proposed for the void at the top of Caja Madrid Tower in Spain, when Repsol Oil was the project client.
• Other Green and LEED structures designed by HP include: Blue Wall Visitor Center (intended Platinum), Russia Tower (intended Platinum), Takeda Pharmaceutical Headquarters (Gold), AMCOL Headquarters (awarded Silver), One South Dearborn (Silver – Core and Shell), Center on Halsted (Silver), Miller/Coors Headquarters (Silver).
