Retrofitting a Chicago historical landmark

Retrofit for energy efficiency without compromising aesthetics, productivity or historic landmark status.

Does your historic building need an upgrade, but you’re worried an energy efficient retrofit could compromise the look? Slipstream worked closely with the Perkins + Will team to design a five-floor new office space in the iconic Wrigley Building—and to enhance energy performance.

This project demonstrates cutting edge advancements in retrofitting a historic landmark. To prepare for the build-out of the new office and set measurable goals for success, Slipstream documented performance in the firm’s existing space. We monitored energy consumption at the department and individual work space levels during and after hours. We integrated occupant survey data in our analysis. We benchmarked lighting quality, access to daylight, and CO2 levels.

Slipstream developed a model of the base building and the site context to study how and where sunlight entered the building at different times of the day. Daylight analysis informed the space layout, workstations, lighting design, and controls for harvesting strategies. Energy modeling guided how we selected system strategies and helped prioritize comfort and air quality as key approaches to increase employee well-being.