Lofty ambitions: Sears Tower gets green makeover

Chicago – Sears Tower, the tallest building in the Western hemisphere, will undergo the world’s largest green renovation in a five-year plan unveiled this week. Green roofs, solar panels, wind turbines and a neighbouring carbon-neutral hotel are all part of American Landmark Properties’ $350m (£213m; €248.8m) eco overhaul of the location.

Electricity consumption will be reduced by 80% and annual water consumption in the iconic 110-storey tower will be reduced by 24m gallons, or about 40% of current levels. Renewable energy technologies will be integrated, along with fuel-cell-based gas boilers, solar hot-water panels and elevator systems that use 40% less energy than traditional systems.

The sustainability and modernisation initiatives include plans for a new zero-energy hotel designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, alongside a Sustainable Technology Learning Center to educate future visitors to Sears Tower. The landmark building already attracts 1.3m visitors a year to the Skydeck on the 103rd floor.

This ambitious green makeover of an iconic structure illustrates the growing importance of sustainability to the leisure industry.

Read more about Super Sustainability in the leisure and hospitality industry in The Future Laboratory’s new Leisure and Hospitality Futures Report.