Wentworth Commons

Type of Construction:

New construction

Type of Development:

Affordable rental apartments with social services for building occupants and the Roseland community.

Completion Date:

October 2005

Square Footage:

65,800 Sq. Ft

Number of Units:

51 units (3 four-bedrooms, 15 three-bedrooms, 9 two-bedrooms, 24 studios)

Sustainable Design Features:

Types of Funding Received:

First Mortgage from Chicago Department of Housing Community Development Block Grant
Federal Home Loan Bank loan
Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunities grant
Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation grant
ComEd Grant Enterprise Green Communities Initiative grant

Awards:

2007 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Award for Architectural Excellence in Community Development
Show You're Green: Award citation, from the National American Institute of Architects Housing Committee
Community Vision Award 2006, from the Chicago District Council of the Urban Land Institute, The Metropolitan Planning Council, and the Homebuilders Association of Greater Chicago
American Institute of Architects (AIA) Illinois Honor Award Program, 2006, Frank Lloyd Wright Category, Citation of Merit
Mayor Daley's 2006 GreenWorks Award: Building Green Category
American Institute of Architects (AIA) Chicago Chapter, 2007 Citation of Merit, Sustainable Design Category
Green Good Design 2009 Award

Green Rating:

LEED NC Certified (Version 2.0)

Challenges & Lessons Learned:

The bioswales were designed to be educational and interactive for residents to enjoy, but the impact of the large number of children in the building was underestimated, and the system was overtaxed and unsupervised the first year. The lesson learned for ownership is that the engagement of operation and management in the design process is critical. But just as critical is the management and programming of space (interior and exterior) after construction. If the residents, and especially the children, had been educated on the bioswale the first year, it might have been easier for it to be established and then maintained.
The originally specified flooring for the Ground Floor Community Rooms (a combination of cork and rubber) was a relatively new product. When the contractor went to place the order he learned that there was going to be a delay due to changes in the manufacturing process and this would affect the construction schedule, so the supplier offered a cork-only alternative. The installation was less than ideal, and in this case it was difficult to determine responsibility and get the work corrected. Today there are many “green” materials and products constantly coming into the market, so the lesson learned is that to the extent possible the Contractor needs to be aware so that orders can be placed in a timely manner.

Contacts:

Contacts:

Contacts:

Structural Engineer: Matrix Engineering

Contacts:

HVAC Engineer: KJWW

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