HOK has infused green strategies into Chicago’s Greenway Self-Park facility – a not so typical place to find sustainable ideas. While the 11 story energy efficient parking garage features a naturally ventilated exterior wall, a cistern rain water collection system, a green roof, and electric car plug-in stations, we can’t get over the dozen wind turbines made by Helix Wind that attach to the external structure.
More about the self-park and more images after the break.
The vertical turbines are located on the southwest corner of the garage to take full advantage of Chicago’s summer winds. The turbines will harvest the wind to power the exterior wall lighting of the facility, as well as contribute excess power to the city grid.
The glazed screen, which is comprised of a visually layered fabric of breathable glass channels, shows the inner function of the building. The building will be topped with a green roof.
This structure, which is the first of its kind in Chicago, is currently pursuing LEED Certification.
Source: Otto. Images from Flickr uploader John Picken.
