Sears Tower Unveils Sustainable Plan to Transform Tallest Building in Western Hemisphere

Sears Tower Unveils Sustainable Plan to Transform Tallest Building in Western
Hemisphere

Project will significantly reduce energy use and CO2 emissions, spur economic
development

CHICAGO, June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Sears Tower today announced plans for the
most significant sustainable modernization projects of an existing building
ever undertaken. The project will result in unparalleled energy savings and
reduced CO2 emissions to the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere,
reducing the base building electricity use by up to 80 percent, which includes
a combination of energy savings and co-generation. The energy savings equal 68
million kilowatt hours annually or 150,000 barrels of oil every year. The
sustainability plans also drive economic development in the West Loop,
creating more than 3,600 jobs, and are part of a broader initiative to
transform the global icon.

"Sears Tower, an iconic structure that defines the city's skyline, will
undergo a groundbreaking transformation that creates economic growth with
positive impact on our environment, leaving a lasting legacy for future
generations," said John Huston of American Landmark Properties, representing
the partnership that owns Sears Tower. "As the stewards of this icon, we take
seriously our responsibility to make it relevant and successful, and the
changes made and benefits realized through the bold sustainable initiatives at
the tower serve as an example that a sustainable future is more than a
concept, it is within our reach."

The building, which already meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED) criteria, will undertake sustainability initiatives above and
beyond those used by the United Stated Green Building Council to rate a green
building. Modernization strategies, designed by Chicago-based Adrian Smith +
Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG), include:
-- Efficiency improvements to the building's exterior envelope and
windows. The tower has 16,000 single-pane windows. Sustainability
plans
for the building call for a window replacement and glazing program.
Strategies to achieve a thermal break of the curtain wall are also
being
investigated. These upgrades would achieve savings of up to 50 percent
of heating energy.
-- Mechanical systems upgrades in the form of new gas boilers that
utilize
fuel cell technologies, which generate electricity, heating and
cooling
at as much as 90 percent efficiency. Mechanical upgrades also will
include new high-efficiency chillers and upgrades to the distribution
system.
-- The tower's 104 high speed elevators and 15 escalators that will be
modernized with the latest technology to achieve 40 percent reduction
in
their energy consumption.
-- Water savings that will be realized with conservation initiatives
through upgrades to restroom fixtures, condensation recovery systems
and
water efficient landscaping, which will reduce water usage by 40
percent
and save 24 million gallons of water each year.
-- Lighting that will be upgraded through advanced lighting control
systems
and daylight harvesting, an advanced lighting control system that
automatically dims lights in tenant spaces based on the amount of
sunlight entering through the windows. Combined, these upgrades will
save up to 40 percent of lighting energy consumption.

-- Renewable energy like wind and solar, and technologies like green
roofs
that will be tested. Wind turbines will be tested to take advantage of
the tower's height and unique set-back roof areas. Solar hot-water
panels will help heat water for the building. Green roofs that can
sustain high- altitude conditions, and that will be among the tallest
in
the world, will be tested to reduce storm water runoff, improve
insulation, help mitigate the urban heat island effect, and provide
pleasant vistas for tenants overlooking the areas.

"Buildings are the world's largest contributor to carbon emissions, and
therefore the biggest opportunity to address climate change is to retrofit
existing structures," said Adrian Smith, partner, AS+GG. "Our goal in the
Sears Tower greening project is to create a holistic approach that integrates
high-performance building technologies and design strategies for maximum
energy efficiency. In the process, we hope to set a benchmark for how
high-rise buildings throughout the world can limit their impact on the
environment."

"Sustainable architecture in new buildings is important but not enough to
address the climate and energy crises facing our world," added Gordon Gill,
partner, AS+GG. "We have to apply what we've learned to our existing stock of
commercial buildings--especially iconic structures such as Sears Tower, which
we hope will inspire similar initiatives around the globe. These will serve as
great examples for building owners and managers and can reposition existing
building stock to be as competitive as most new buildings or even better."

As an important part of the modernization program, Sears Tower's plazas and
retail spaces will also undergo changes. A new park at Wacker Drive and Adams
Street will be an inviting public space with landscaping and seating. The
Adams Street granite wall will be replaced with an interactive digital
display, glass storefronts, and trees, which will be planted to form a
landscaped terrace that will add a natural filter for carbon dioxide.

In addition to the most significant energy efficiency renovations ever
undertaken on an existing building, another aspect of the transformation is a
proposed new, privately funded hotel for the site at Jackson Boulevard and
Wacker Drive. The hotel will be designed for a LEED Gold rating, and will
become one of the most sustainable hotels in Chicago. The hotel will fill a
critical need in the West Loop and provide a much welcomed facility for
existing building tenants.

The reduction in energy use and CO2 emissions realized through the
sustainability and modernization plans for the tower also brings economic
opportunities by creating more than 3,600 jobs. Extending its impact beyond
the site itself, the project will feature a dynamic Sustainable Technology
Learning Center that is designed to help building visitors and Chicago
tourists learn about ways to save energy and money, as Sears Tower serves as a
laboratory that demonstrates to the office building industry how a
sustainability program can be accomplished.

"The plans for the building bring new activity to the West Loop, and make it
even more attractive to current and future tenants who are looking for more
sustainable office solutions," said Robert A. Wislow, chairman and CEO of U.S.
Equities Asset Management, the management and leasing agent for the tower.
"Today, tenants want the buildings they inhabit to be environmentally friendly
and more healthy for their employees. They demand sustainable workplaces. They
are doing this because it is the right thing to do, has a positive effect on
the environment, helps make their employees more productive and is becoming
more and more important to their employees."

The cost of construction for the Sears Tower project is estimated at $350
million. A number of private and public financing and funding options are
being explored. The majority of the energy savings will be realized in
approximately five years and work will start immediately.

"The Illinois Environmental Council supports private and public investments in
projects that spur job creation and economic development here in Illinois,
while helping to meet the challenge of global climate change," said Charles
Jackson, IEC executive director. "The Sears Tower energy sustainability and
environmental education project presents a tremendous opportunity for
inspiring building owners and the public to aspire to the highest standards of
energy-efficiency."

Sears Tower's commitment to energy efficiency is well established. Since
1989, the building has reduced its annual electricity consumption by 34
percent. Since 1984, its energy efficiency improvements have resulted in a
reduction of 51 million pounds of carbon emissions annually, or the equivalent
of removing more than 4,400 cars from the road each year.

For more information on the sustainability plans for the building, please
visit: www.searstower.com/icon.

About Sears Tower
Sears Tower is the premier corporate office building in Chicago, offering more
than 4.5 million square feet of office and retail space. Located in Chicago's
West Loop at 233 S. Wacker Drive, the skyscraper is easily accessible from the
commuter rail stations, highways and all forms of public transportation.
Standing 1,450 feet and 110 stories tall, Sears Tower is the tallest building
in the Western Hemisphere and an integral part of Chicago's culture.
Originally opened in September 1973, it is home to more than 100 different
companies, including prominent financial services firms, law firms and
insurance companies. Sears Tower boasts spectacular vistas of Chicago, with
views that can reach nearly 50 miles on a clear day. Sears Tower also boasts a
tremendous infrastructure system, which includes enormous telecommunications
capacity and unsurpassed electrical capacity and reliability. The Sears Tower
Skydeck on the 103rd floor attracts more than 1.3 million visitors per year.

About 233 S. Wacker Drive, LLC
The building is owned by 233 S. Wacker Drive LLC, a real estate investment
group formed in 2004 to purchase the tower. Ownership includes Yisroel Gluck
and John Huston, of American Landmark Properties, Ltd., based in Skokie, Ill.;
and partners Joseph Chetrit, and Joseph Moinian of The Moinian Group.

About U.S. Equities Asset Management, LLC
U.S. Equities Asset Management, LLC, is a leading full-service commercial real
estate firm headquartered in Chicago, with operations in Detroit,
Philadelphia, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Colombia. The
company serves as a strategic real estate advisor to clients throughout the
United States and Latin America, providing development, program management,
build-to-suit and construction oversight services; asset management and
leasing; tenant representation, consulting and advisory services; and
acquisition, disposition and financing of real estate assets. The asset
management services group provides asset oversight, property and facility
management, marketing and leasing and strategic planning to a diverse group of
clients. Currently, the portfolio includes more than 400 properties totaling
over 24 million square feet of office, retail, institutional, dormitory,
facility and residential management services for approximately 50 clients,
including 2.5 million square feet of management assignments along Chicago's
famous Michigan Avenue.

About Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture
Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture was founded in 2006 in Chicago. AS+GG
is focused on the design of high-performance architecture on an international
scale. The firm is dedicated to the creation of new paradigms for sustainable
development, and uses an integrated design approach that emphasizes symbiosis
with the natural environment. AS+GG's architects are expert in a range of
building types, including supertall towers, large-scale mixed-use
developments, corporate offices, exhibition and cultural facilities, civic and
public spaces, and hotels and residential complexes. Currently, AS+GG is
involved in more than two dozen projects in the United States, Canada, China,
South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.

About the Illinois Environmental Council
The Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) is a 34-year old organization that
promotes sound environmental laws and policies, as well as the adoption of
environmental best practices in the private sector. Also, IEC provides a forum
for environmental advocacy organizations and facilitates a statewide activist
network.

SOURCE Sears Tower

Kate Murphy of Fleishman-Hillard , +1-312-932-2813, kate.murphy@fleishman.com,
for Sears Tower; or Carrie Neill of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture,
+1-312-676-3004, carrierneill@smithgill.com