Project
District House
Location
Oak Park, IL
Award Winner
Omni Ecosystems
Project Team
Architect: Northworks
Developer: Ranquist Development Group
Developer: Campbell Coyle Real Estate
General Contractor: MC Construction
Green Roof Installer: Omni Ecosystems
Landscape Architect: Dickson Design Studio
“The financial data learned from the District House Omni Green Roof is pushing the industry forward. We now know in plain dollars and cents the specific value-add that the marketplace puts on a green roof. And it’s huge! Quality green roofs increase market value and property value. Period.”
Making the Financial Case for Green Roofs
District House is a 28-unit luxury condo building located in downtown Oak Park, Illinois, that prioritizes modern, sustainable urban living. The project features several state-of-the-art and ecologically-minded amenities including five private green roof terraces for premium second-floor units.
Installed in 2018, this project includes an integration of native meadow on the upper roof and seeded lawn on the terraces. Overall, the average depth is 6” with a total area of 9,009 square feet. The lush lawn spaces perfectly complement District House's luxury interiors and provides accessible private green space for residents.
The green roof cools the surrounding area, providing a cooler upper rooftop experience for those enjoying the deck surrounded by a native meadow, and cooler terraces where lush private lawns surround condo terraces.
The rooftop features a native meadow mix, designed to create a life support system for a midwestern prairie rich in biodiversity. The green roof incorporates a variety of native plants that provide habitat for local pollinators. With a high level of plant variety and seed mixes designed for healthy ecological succession, the roof is primed to provide opportunities for pollination and food, nesting, nutrients and more for local fauna.
A brief case study was performed to compare sales of units with private green roofs which found that the green roof increased the sales price by an average of almost $70,000, despite the $20,000 cost.
Judges praised the project for its use of a self-regenerative nutritive media, and the illustration of the profitability of green infrastructure integrations.
