A new laboratory building located on the 15 acre science campus at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. The Science Center will house world-class research facilities where scientists will further knowledge regarding endangered plants, mobilize that knowledge into action and train plant conservation leaders. It is pursuing a LEED Gold certification.

This project has been awarded LEED Gold Certification for New Buildings by the US Green Building Council.

This project was selected as Laboratory of the Year in 2010 by R&D Magazine. Additonal project information and photos can be found on Booth Hansen's website. Booth Hansen was the architect for this project.

• Mechanical, plumbing and fire protection design.
• G/BA prepared an energy model to assist in design decisions affecting building energy consumption and to document conformance with LEED requirements.

• Two 30,000 cfm, variable air volume 50% outside air units serving offices and labs (with once-through air). Energy reducing features include low velocity coils and filters and preheating/precooling of outside air coils utilizing heat recovered from the laboratory exhaust systems.
• Two variable air volume laboratory exhaust systems with heat pipe heat recovery coils served by two pairs of 7,500 cfm high plume exhaust fans.
• A high efficiency 150 ton centrifugal chiller utilizing pond water for condenser water and serving a variable primary flow chilled water system.
• High efficiency condensing hot water boilers serving preheat coils, space reheat coils and in-floor radiant heating system.
• Natural ventilation of central corridor/atrium.
• Some of the other LEED-inspired elements include a green roof, photovoltaic cells, daylighting with high efficiency lighting and lighting occupancy controls and performance of enhanced commissioning by an independent commissioning agent.