Leopardo-built University of Chicago Child Development Center Receives Green Building Innovation Award from USGBC-Illinois

The University of Chicago Child Development Center, built by Leopardo, has received the Green Building Innovation award from the Illinois chapter of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). “The center beautifully immerses the children with the natural world providing exciting opportunities for discovery and sensory development while emphasizing the natural landscape over the built one,” said the USGBC-Illinois announcement about the award.

The Child Development Center is a LEED Gold-certified facility located on the University of Chicago campus. It was designed by project partner Wheeler Kearns Architects. The development center provides support to children and families within the university and medical center community and has a capacity of 124 children.

The project’s sustainable features include a green roof system, daylighting, recycled content, as well as the use of regionally-sourced materials. Additionally, 75 percent of materials from the project were diverted from the landfill. Other unique building features include tree bark siding and outdoor natural play areas with monumental boulders.

The project will be honored at the 10th annual Emerald Awards ceremony hosted by USGBC-Illinois as part of their Limelight event on May 14th at the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago.