As owners demand facilities that are more energy efficient, user friendly and environmentally sensitive, Graycor Construction Company’s team of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professionals are using their sustainable design and construction experience to deliver projects that achieve this and more. Using the principles of the LEED Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, Graycor is partnering with project stakeholders to develop solutions for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of green buildings throughout the U.S.

Green buildings are evaluated based on how they address site planning, water efficiency, energy efficiency/renewable energy, conservation of materials and indoor environmental quality. Some LEED certified projects on Graycor’s resume include the 1.1 million square foot lifestyle center constructed for Forest City Enterprises in Bolingbrook, IL; the Volkswagen USA assembly plant and body shop in Chattanooga, TN; the Prologis Park distribution center project in Phoenix, AZ; the L.L. Bean retail store in Skokie, IL; and the AMC Theater in Mount Prospect, IL. Some of the green building solutions employed on these and other Graycor projects include innovative storm water management systems, low-flow sinks and toilets, paints with low toxic gas emissions and flooring made from recycled rubber tires.

Graycor’s green building resume also boasts the Ignite Glass Studios project, winner of the prestigious 2013 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Chicago SustainABILITY Leadership Award and the Wilde and Greene Restaurant and Natural Market in northeast Illinois, winner of numerous awards including the 2012 Association for Retail Environments (A.R.E.) Design Award. These projects use simple sustainable design and construction solutions, such as re-purposing existing structures through selective demolition or using recycled materials, and demonstrate how green buildings can outshine other projects by the way they approach the smallest of details.

One of Graycor’s most recognized green building specialties is demonstrated in its fast-growing solar power resume. An abundant renewable resource, solar is a viable supplemental power option that building owners are taking time to consider in their search for ways to save money and lower their facility’s carbon footprint. Graycor recently completed a 250-kilowatt rooftop solar installation for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA and a 225-kilowatt solar installation for the nation’s first “Net Zero” energy retail store for Walgreens in Evanston, IL. These projects illustrate how buildings can utilize green technology to become more energy efficient and environment-focused than ever before.