CHICAGO—Hotel Felix Chicago has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification for commercial interiors from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), making it the first hotel in Chicago to earn this environmental status.
The LEED rating system is the preeminent internationally recognized building certification system for designing and constructing the world’s greenest, most energy-efficient and high performance buildings. Designed by Chicago-based Gettys, whose design and procurement team is largely staffed by LEED Accredited Professionals, Hotel Felix meets LEED standards for its adaptive reuse of an existing urban structure, convenient access to public transportation, and the use of green materials throughout. The hotel features recycled content in the corridor and guestroom carpet, bamboo and cork flooring in the public areas, low volatile organic compound paints and wall coverings and Forest Stewardship Council-certified millwork.
Hotel Felix’s eco-friendly ideals extend beyond its design; with free parking for hybrid vehicles, no bleach use throughout the property and the serving of complimentary fair trade coffee. Additionally, the hotel recently installed wind turbines on its roof to study the potential of further reducing its carbon footprint by generating its own renewable energy.
“Participating in this comprehensive certification process supports our core philosophy and commitment to lessen our environmental impact,” said George Jordan, area general manager for Hotel Felix Chicago. “We’re honored to have achieved LEED Silver certification status and we will continue to extend our green values to our guests through our daily operations.”
Hotel Felix is a contemporary-style reinvention of a historic 1926 apartment hotel located in the heart of one of Chicago’s most thriving neighborhoods. The 225-room boutique property opened in April 2009 after its extensive redevelopment, which was executed to meet LEED certification standards. The hotel boasts energy savings in heating and air conditioning costs with its in-room motion sensor system and in electricity costs with the use of fluorescent lighting throughout the property. This year, more than one million gallons of water will be saved through the property’s water reduction program.
For more information, visit www.hotelfelixchicago.com.
