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The Chicago Cultural Center is open every day except holidays. Read the article from Roofing Contractor of September 1, 2006, “Cool Roofing: Green Roofs in the City,” by Chris King here, and the City of Chicago Press Release of September 9, 2006 “Mayor Daley Dedicates Cultural Center Green Roof” here.

Located at 77 E. Randolph St., the very visible 1897 marquee public building sits next to Millennium Park, bordered by Michigan, Washington and Randolph Avenues. The eigth floor greenroof contains more than 12,000 plants and four beehives; the honey will be sold to benefit the Gallery 37 Center for the Arts. The Cultural Center roof also contains 18 solar thermal panels.

Chris King (see below) writes, “For the roof garden, a 10-mil polyethylene root barrier was installed, which was topped with a fabric drainage mat and growth media. The irrigation lines, which run up from the basement and loop in the attic, are connected to tubes that soak the soil. The system is controlled by a solenoid timer in the basement, and it is maintenance free, except for the need to be drained in winter.” Junipers, sedum, creeping thyme, and scarlet bee balm were been planted in the roof garden, which has its own irrigation system.

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