CHICAGO—Chicago-based Fifield Cos. began developing its K Station apartment buildings in the West Loop about ten years ago with the goal of creating a livable neighborhood. And the company and its joint venture partner Wood Partners have just taken another step toward that goal by securing a LEED Silver certification from the US Green Building Council for K2, the partnership's 496-unit luxury rental tower at 365 Halsted St. in Chicago's Fulton River District.
To win this designation, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, K2 applied for and won 58 possible points in the USGCB's rating system. Project highlights included: brownfield redevelopment, alternative transportation-public transportation access, water use reduction, using recycled and regional materials for construction, development density and community connectivity, among many others.
“Fifield Companies has made a concentrated effort to develop environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient buildings with all of our new construction projects,” says Steve Fifield, chairman and chief executive of Fifield. “We find that it makes sense on all levels. It's the right thing to do for the environment and it makes sound business strategy. Today's renters and corporate tenants want to reside and work in energy-efficient buildings. They want to be as green as possible and live a more sustainable lifestyle. We are helping them achieve that.”
Fifield secured LEED Gold status in 2011 for K2's neighboring project, Alta at K Station. At the time, the 848-unit, two-tower luxury rental building at 555 W. Kinzie St. was largest LEED Gold certified apartment project in the country.
“The practices and innovations we started at Alta we wanted to carry over to new projects,” adds Fifield. “It allowed us to look at developments and designs in a different light and we challenged ourselves to come up with engaging ideas to promote environmental best practices. At K2, we installed electric car charging stations for our residents' convenience and we included a storage area for up to 200 bikes that opens directly to designated biking lanes on Kinzie St., promoting alternative and less energy-intensive forms of transportation. Both innovations have been a hit with our residents.”
K2 opened in March of 2013 and tenants now occupy 93% of it.
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Brian J. Rogal
Brian J. Rogal is a Chicago-based freelance writer with years of experience as an investigative reporter and editor, most notably at The Chicago Reporter, where he concentrated on housing issues. He also has written extensively on alternative energy and the payments card industry for national trade publications.
