Chicago Lakeside Shortlisted for the Sustainia Award

CHICAGO, Sept. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chicago Lakeside Development—a joint venture between McCaffery Interests and U.S. Steel Corporation—was nominated for the first Sustainia Award, to be announced on Oct. 11 by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in Copenhagen, Denmark. The inaugural Sustainia Award will "honor the best sustainable solution," according to the global alliance. In July 2012, the project was distinguished as a member of the Sustainia100—a grouping of 100 projects from 56 countries that are leading the development of sustainable solutions worldwide—at the United Nations Rio+20 conference in Rio de Janeiro.

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"Chicago Lakeside is a transformative model for U.S. city planning and could upend the traditional thinking of how people live and work in Chicago and across the U.S.," Sustainia writes in its citation. "The solutions utilized in Chicago Lakeside have strong site-specific characteristics, but the 'DNA' of the solutions is fully transferable to other cities."

The Chicago Lakeside Development is a master-planned, 600-acre mixed-use development in Chicago located on the former U.S. Steel South Works site. The development will be the catalyst for the rebuilding of the southeast lakefront of Chicago and the surrounding region. When complete, this new master-planned community will provide a new way of living based on 21st century infrastructure and technologies. Plans include a rich mix of proposed uses, including over 15,000 residential units and more than 15 million square feet of retail, restaurants, commercial, institutional and research facilities. Open space will include two miles of new park land along the shores of Lake Michigan, extending the lakefront park system originally envisioned by Daniel Burnham's Plan of Chicago.

"Lakeside presents a unique opportunity to create a thriving 21st century community for the neighborhood in which it sits, Chicago and indeed the world. Lakeside will not only redevelop and re-purpose a former steel mill but it will also rebuild the entire southeast lakefront and offer a new way for people to live, work, shop and play," remarked McCaffery Interests' Chairman and CEO Daniel McCaffery.

The ten finalists are competing for both the Sustainia Award and the associated Community Award, to be presented by former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Sustainia initiative is spearheaded by Gov. Schwarzenegger and founded by leading international companies and Scandinavia's prominent independent think tank, Monday Morning, to raise awareness of the many tangible, sustainable solutions available across the globe.

"Chicago Lakeside is a unique opportunity to create a new Chicago neighborhood with 21st century infrastructure," says SOM Urban Design and Planning Partner Philip Enquist. "We're creating an intelligent district energy network using the most advanced clean energy technologies that will set examples for how to best live and work within a vibrant walkable community that connects seamlessly to the Chicago's South Side."

A jury of Gov. Schwarzenegger, former Prime Minister of Norway Gro Harlem Brundtland, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Chair Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri and EU Commissioner of Climate Action Connie Hedegaard will choose the winning project of the Sustainia Award. The winner of the Community Award will be chosen by the general public via Sustainia's large social media community. To vote, visit Sustainia's Facebook ballot.

About Chicago Lakeside Development:   
Chicago Lakeside Development is a joint venture between U.S. Steel Corporation and McCaffery Interests, Inc. Chicago Lakeside Development is a global initiative for innovative living, with a strong focus on sustainable land development and community involvement. The development itself is a master-planned, nearly 600-acre mixed-use community located on the former U.S. Steel South Works site on the southeast lakefront in Chicago. The master plan is designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill in conjunction with Sasaki Associates and Antunovich Associates. Working closely with Mayor Rahm Emmanuel, Chicago Lakeside will be one of the largest public-private partnerships in the history of the city upon completion. With both public and private support, Chicago Lakeside is poised to revolutionize urban living in the 21st century. For more information, please visit www.chicagolakesidedevelopment.com or follow the project on Facebook.

About McCaffery Interests, Inc.:   
McCaffery Interests, Inc., is a privately owned, full-service commercial real estate company that has been in the business of investing, developing, leasing and managing real estate for more than 20 years. The McCaffery Interests portfolio of planned, completed and managed projects exceeds 20 million square feet and includes office, mixed-use, hotel, and residential properties, as well as large, master-planned communities and land developments. With offices in Chicago, IL and Washington, DC, and controlled assets and completed developments valued in excess of $2 billion, McCaffery Interests is one of the most trusted real estate companies in the nation. For more information, please visit www.mccafferyinterests.com or call (703) 351-9500.

SOURCE McCaffery Interests, Inc.