Commercial office properties have always had to contend for tenants as a part of doing business, but increasingly, existing buildings are facing stiffer competition from new office properties offering integrated amenities packages that go way beyond the lobby coffee shop. As a new generation of employees enters the workforce, employers are challenged to secure leases that provide more than simple office space, instead offering an attractive combination of recreation, retail, and relaxation options that feel more akin to a resort than a workplace.

In the case of Prudential Plaza, a 41-story structure in Chicago built in 1955, the challenge for the building owners was to offer new value in a building originally designed to respond to a workforce that no longer exists. Prudential Plaza's owners envisioned a top-to-bottom rehabilitation, crowned by a 13,000-square-foot amenities deck on the 11th floor.

Installing the Geofoam was the responsibility of Christy Webber Landscapes. Though (the company) has extensive experience with green roof construction, (installation) project manager Nick Kinsella remarked that the roof deck on Prudential Plaza was one of the most challenging projects he has worked on.

"The design for this project was really quite complex, with lots of different design elements and a wide range of building materials in play," noted Kinsella. For most construction projects, especially renovation work, understanding and resolving construction logistics is a challenge that generally presents case-by-case complexities for builders like the Christy Webber team. In the case of the Prudential roof deck renovation, one of the biggest challenges was simply getting the required building materials to the 11th-floor roof. Since the building is located adjacent to a series of vaulted streets, the construction team was unable to use a high reach crane because the weight of the crane would have required special provisions and necessitated street closures.

"Basically we had to bring all of the construction materials up to the project site in the building's freight elevator," continued Kinsella. "We were able to work with (the Geofoam's manufacturer) to have all of the pieces of foam cut to a specific length allowing laborers to transport the foam to the 11th floor on the elevator and then walk it through a series of corridors out to the roof." Kinsella also worked with the company's product representative to develop a just-in-time delivery schedule to ensure that a steady stream of EPS Geofoam in the required densities arrived on the roof as workers were ready to put them in place. This allowed builders to keep the limited staging area clear of excess materials while ensuring that construction progress would continue unimpeded.
Once the Geofoam was on the roof, the building team assembled the pre-marked pieces, allowing the space to take shape. As each area of blocks was assembled, the construction team was able to survey the progress and fine tune according to the designed curves and contours. Pieces that needed to be further shaped were cut by hand with a reciprocating saw by general laborers.

Today, with construction at Prudential Plaza complete, building tenants are enjoying a premium green roof experience that boasts fantastic skyline views and overlooks Chicago's famed Millennium Park. Interestingly, 10 years earlier, Millennium Park was also built on top of ACH Foam Technologies' EPS Geofoam for many of the same reasons.

"The transformation of the 11th-floor roof deck really couldn't be more dynamic," said Kinsella with pride. "The space went from a flat, barren roof to a vibrant, inviting private park that will be a delightful spot for mid-day lunch or after work drinks."
Kyle Kamin, a tenant broker who has clients in Prudential Plaza called the roof deck "a game-changer with an unbeatable view."