Increasingly cited as part of the way to solve the affordable housing crisis, an architect who specializes in office-to-residential conversions explains exactly what makes a good one.
(Credit: the 601W Companies)
The historic Old Chicago Main Post Office building, which occupies an entire city block in downtown Chicago, has been updated with 2,400 energy efficient, insulating windows. The windows transmit 70% of available visible light while blocking 62% of the sun’s heat energy.
The formerly shuttered, historical landmarked building has been brought back to life as a large office and retail complex. While it was exempt from meeting the local energy code requirements, developer 601W Companies was interested in the energy efficiencies leveraged by insulating glass units. Ultimately, the building was upgraded with 2,400 historically accurate windows fabricated with Solarban 60 solar-control, low-emissivity glass by Vitro Architectural Glass.