MESIROW.
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The building structure was topped out
in October 2008 and the curtainwall was
completed in January. Tenant floor turn-
over began this month and will continue
each month through April. “We’re looking
for substantial completion in October 2009,
and both Mesirow and Jenner will be fully
moved in by mid-November,” Slivka says.
High-End Amenities
353 North Clark will feature office and
retail space and underground parking for
225 vehicles. Ground floor retail on
Kinzie Street will have two white table-
cloth restaurants. Amenities include a
premier health club, concierge services
and an upscale, on-site dining and cater-
ing facility for tenants and their guests.
In addition, Mesirow Financial plans to
construct an auditorium that can accom-
modate up to 300 people.
Unique to this development, 353 North
Clark offers four access points at Clark,
Kinzie, Dearborn and Carroll streets, a
private drive and motor court for con-
venience and traffic efficiency. The build-
ing’s 32-foot-high lobby will feature high-
end materials such as blue pearl and
barre grey granite with accents of fine
gray and white marble, and stainless
steel. “It also has a world-class storefront
system consisting of nonreflective Shott
Glass, which provides full environmental
insulation without the reflections normal-
ly encountered with standard glass,”
Slivka adds.
In addition, 353 North Clark will boast
a state-of-the-art security system seam-
lessly integrated into the building’s infra-
structure. This includes a 24/7, state-of-
the-art centralized security system that
offers unobtrusive, yet controlled entry
into the main lobby and elevator lobbies,
two reception/security check-ins, secure
access points for each elevator bank and
restricted elevator access to each floor
available at all times.
Seeking LEED Status
353 North Clark has been pre-certified
Silver under LEED-CS and will pursue
final certification upon completion of the
project. Developing a green office space
was “important to the culture of Mesirow
Financial and the other tenants in the
building,” Slivka states. Green features
FEBRUARY 2009
include green roofs on the tower and
low-rise bustle, a LEED-compliant exte-
rior wall, a high-performance HVAC
system, low-flow plumbing fixtures,
stormwater retention and irrigation sys-
tems, and the use of recycled and
regional materials.
There once was a time when obtaining
LEED certification was a difficult and
expensive challenge – but not anymore,
Slivka says. “LEED offers several advan-
tages for the design and construction
team,” he points out.
“It provided credits for permit costs. It
expedited the permit review process to
save time. And the city assigned a dedi-
cated project manager to work with the
design and construction team through-
out the permitting process.
“LEED is no longer the hassle that it
was originally felt to be. Now, it’s com-
mon practice.
“The world has made a mental change
to embrace green building rather than be
skeptical about it. Energy-efficient, high-
performance buildings have always been
a criteria for Mesirow Financial – even
before there was a LEED program.” ■
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