Client: American Red Cross of Greater Chicago

Location: Chicago, IL

GreenGrid^® Size: 2,800 ft²

Installation Contractor: WESTON

Landscape Design: Douglas Hoerr Landscape Architecture

Rooftop System: Extensive

Status: Completed Summer 2004

Project Narrative: The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago (ARCGC) cut the ribbon on its brand new Rauner Center in June 2004. The new Rauner Center is the ARCGC’s new state-of-the-art command center designed to enhance disaster response capabilities statewide. The new facility will serve the more than 8.1 million people in Illinois’ Cook, Lake, Kane, Kendall, DuPage, McHenry, and Will Counties.

The Rauner Center, located west of the Loop in the Illinois Medical District, is now part of a 24-hour, 7-day-per-week campus of facilities that includes the new John Stroger Cook County Hospital, the University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago, the RushPresbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, and Chicago's 311 information center. It is adjacent to the University of Illinois at Chicago.

The 57,450 ft² structure was designed by architects Perkins & Will. Julian J. Studley & Co. managed the project, and Power Construction was the general contractor. The new facility was funded through contributions to the Chapter's campaign: Here. Now. Building for Tomorrow.

To complement the beautiful headquarters building, a 2,800 ft² GreenGrid^® green roof was installed on 1/3 of the new building’s roof surface. Plans are in place to complete the entire roof as funding becomes available. The 2,800 ft² GreenGrid^® green roof was completed in two days. The 350 GreenGrid^® Extensive Modules were planted with a Sedum mix containing Sedum kamtschaticum, Sedum rupestre ‘Foresteranum’, and Sedum floriferum ‘Bailey’s Gold’. After completion, the green roof was dedicated as a commemorative garden to the Honorable Mayor Richard M. Daley. The photos above were taken shortly after installation.