Forest Preserve District of Cook County Headquarters High-Efficiency HVAC Upgrades

River Forest, IL

AltusWorks provided building envelope and interior architectural design services to support full electrification and a new high-efficiency HVAC system at the Forest Preserve District of Cook County’s Headquarters. Led by Interface Engineering, this project was the first implementation of the Forest Preserves’ 2018 Sustainability and Climate Resiliency Plan, which aims to achieve 100% clean energy by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050.

The design features a novel Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERC) and Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system to reduce carbon emissions and improve building performance. AltusWorks assisted in integrating the new HVAC system and designed envelope enhancements to meet the thermal performance goals set for the envelope systems. Data gathered from a blower door test and thermal imaging scan of the headquarters was interpreted and additive insulation, air/water leak mitigation, and window restoration were recommended.

A detailed window study was performed to evaluate multiple restoration strategies based on solar heat gain and insulation value. The selected approach, restoring the existing wood windows and adding interior glass inset panels, achieves the highest performance while maintaining the building’s historic integrity. This project showcases AltusWorks’ ability to blend sustainable design innovation with preservation expertise, helping the Forest Preserves modernize their facilities for a resilient, low-carbon future.