Bamboo

RADIO FLYER CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS & PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT LABORATORY

  • Location
    Chicago, IL
  • LEED Rating Platinum
  • Awards
    ASHRAE-Illinois Chapter, Excellence in Engineering, 2013
  • Owner
    Radio Flyer
  • Architect
    Gensler
  • Completed
    2011
dbHMS was the design engineer for this 60,000 sq. ft. conversion of Radio Flyer’s old manufacturing facility into a LEED© NCv2009 Platinum corporate headquarters and product development laboratory in collaboration with Gensler. Using our strong background in sustainable design, dbHMS performed several energy modeling studies to determine the most efficient building systems. The project employs geothermal heat pumps with assistance from solar thermal both on the air side and the water side. The old saw-tooth form of the building's roof was used to enhance daylighting, and its impact was incorporated into the MEP design by using daylight simulation studies. The project also incorporates rainwater harvesting, displacement ventilation, and energy recovery. The project is a good example of combining existing technologies in a creative combination for best performance results.