William McDonough + Partners has been selected to design Method’s first U.S. manufacturing facility on a brownfield site in Chicago’s historic Pullman community. The company, known for producing environmentally conscious cleaning products, commissioned McDonough to design an ultra clean, LEED Platinum facility constructed from Cradle to Cradle Certified materials and powered entirely by renewable energy.
“So often, in the first industrial revolution, factories were dirty. We have these images of factories as gritty buildings with smokestacks—facilities that no families would want in or near their neighborhoods,” explained William McDonough.
“Method’s new manufacturing home is a clean home—using clean energy, water and materials to create innovative household products. The manifestation of ‘industrial hygiene’ at this scale is beneficial to communities; it provides jobs and it is embodied by a facility that is a delightful neighbor—your kids can play safely here. Entrepreneurial companies like Method are modeling a new, clean industrial model for our country. It’s a genuine pleasure to work with them.”
Equipped with refurbished wind turbines, solar photovoltaic tree-like car canopies and solar thermal panels, the state-of-the-art site will also facilitate native land renewal across the 22 acres while extending into the surrounding communities to enhance pedestrian access and connect workers to mass transit opportunities.
In addition to this, the team will focus on utilizing Cradle to Cradle Certified building materials that are safe for human and ecological health, as well as providing ample amounts of natural light and visual outdoor exposure for their workers.
Architects
Location
614 East 113th Street, Chicago, IL 60628, United StatesContractor
Summit Design + Build, LLCCollaborator
Heitman Architects IncorporatedStructural and MEP Engineers
KJWWCivil Engineers
SpacecoLandscape Architects
Norris DesignRenewable Energy Consultant
Buro HappoldCommissioning Consultant
Sieben Energy AssociatesHealthy Materials Assessments
MBDCCertified Product Material Coordination
Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation InstitutePhotographs
William McDonough + PartnersLocation
614 East 113th Street, Chicago, IL 60628, USAPhotographs
Courtesy of William McDonough + Partners