Related Midwest’s 500 Lake Shore Drive Achieves LEED® Gold Certification

47-story luxury apartment tower recognized for environmentally friendly development practices, continuing developer’s commitment to sustainable design

CHICAGO (June 2014) – Developer Related Midwest today announced that 500 Lake Shore Drive, its debut apartment tower in the Chicago market, has earned LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for achievements in sustainable design and construction. The honor comes one year after the grand opening of the 500-unit ultra-luxury rental building, which is currently 99 percent leased and occupied, and follows in the footsteps of 340 on the Park, Related Midwest’s upscale condominium tower at 340 E. Randolph St. that in 2009 became the first residential tower in the Midwest to earn LEED Silver certification.

Located in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood, 500 Lake Shore Drive was awarded LEED Gold certification for meeting strict criteria set forth by USGBC relating to site development, materials selection, energy and water efficiency, and indoor environmental quality. In addition to receiving credits for exceptional construction waste management and use of recycled and regionally produced materials, the smoke-free building was recognized for a variety of environmentally friendly features, including everything from energy-efficient glazing and lighting to green rooftops that help absorb heat and reduce runoff.

“We’ve embraced LEED development from day one with pioneering projects like 340 on the Park, the city’s first LEED Silver certified residential tower. 500 Lake Shore Drive reflects our ongoing commitment to sustainable design and development in Chicago,” said Related Midwest President Curt Bailey. “Today, more renters than ever are looking for a home that reflects their eco-friendly lifestyle without sacrificing any of the services and amenities that have come to define luxury living in downtown Chicago, and as this certification shows, 500 Lake Shore Drive lives up to their high expectations.”

Bailey pointed to a number of green-living features that appeal to environmentally conscious renters, including a Zagster bike-share program, on-site Zipcar and preferred parking for fuel-efficient vehicles. Residents can also take advantage of the building’s extensive recycling services and PORT Destination Elevator System, which assigns riders elevator cars based upon their final destination, eliminating unnecessary stops and, ultimately, conserving energy.

“One of our goals with this building was to show that style, service and sustainability can go hand-in-hand,” said Bailey. “The response to 500 Lake Shore Drive has been phenomenal, and we plan to incorporate many of the same eco-friendly elements at our new luxury rental property at 111 West Wacker Drive, which opens this July.”

Less visible to residents but equally impactful in the building’s LEED certification were special construction techniques used to increase the building’s overall energy efficiency. The use of LED and compact fluorescent lighting fixtures throughout all units and common areas, a company-wide policy at Related Companies, also contributed to 500 Lake Shore Drive’s energy efficiency credits.

“While energy-efficient lighting fixtures are more expensive than the incandescent bulbs and halogen lights that are typically used in closets, bathrooms and decorative lighting fixtures, they significantly reduce a building’s energy footprint over the long term,” said Bailey. “This is especially true when they’re used with daylight and occupancy sensors, as is done in many of the common areas and amenity spaces at 500 Lake Shore Drive.”

The building’s use of energy from a renewable energy provider further underscores Related Midwest’s commitment to sustainability. The developer was also awarded credits for its use of low-VOC materials, including low-emitting paint, carpeting, adhesives and sealants.

Apartment types at 500 Lake Shore Drive include studios, convertibles and one-, two- and three-bedroom residences, in addition to penthouses. All residences feature gourmet kitchens with Snaidero cabinetry, quartz countertops with white marble mosaic backsplash, and professional built-in stainless steel appliances including stainless steel hoods; baths with polished natural stone, custom walnut vanities and custom lighting; custom-designed wide-plank flooring throughout; and closets with built-in organizers.

For more information, visit www.500LakeShore.com, call (312) 850-0500, or visit the building’s on-site leasing center.

About Related Midwest
Related Midwest, the Chicago office of Related Companies, is the preeminent developer of luxury condominium and rental homes, affordable housing communities and mixed-use properties in Chicago.  Recognized for its innovative, market-defining developments, Related Midwest has reshaped luxury living in downtown Chicago through its two high-end apartment projects: 500 Lake Shore Drive and OneEleven (currently pre-leasing with July 2014 move-ins). The firm is also marketing South Loop Luxury by Related, three marquee South Loop condominium properties. Among Related Midwest’s successes in the downtown Chicago area are The Residences on Lake Shore Park (comprising 840 Lake Shore Drive, The Pearson, and The Belvedere), the Park Hyatt Hotel and Park Tower Condominiums at 800 N. Michigan Avenue, and 340 on the Park at 340 E. Randolph Street, the first LEED Silver residential tower in the Midwest.

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